Rancho Cucamonga Wrongful Death Attorney

Rancho Cucamonga Wrongful Death Lawyer

When a loved one passes away due to the actions or inaction of another party, the grief can feel overwhelming. Family members left behind deserve to recover compensation for their financial and emotional losses. An experienced Rancho Cucamonga wrongful death attorney can help explain how California’s legal process works.

Rancho Cucamonga Wrongful Death Lawyer in California

For the past 20 years, the lawyers at Duque & Price have helped countless grieving families start their mourning process by holding the responsible party accountable for their actions. During such a difficult time, you need a strong support system to help.

We offer free consultations to families living in Rancho Cucamonga and the surrounding areas. Our attorneys pride themselves on approaching every new client with the empathy they deserve. Together, we can advocate on behalf of your loved one and seek justice.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case in California

Wrongful death cases can apply to a variety of different situations. If another party directly caused the death of your loved one, you can likely pursue a wrongful death case.

This commonly applies to car accidents. In Rancho Cucamonga, there were 539 victims of car accidents in 2022, both those who were injured and those who passed away.

Wrongful death cases can also be filed against someone who committed a crime against your loved one. Violent crimes in California have slowly started to decrease, but remain higher than they were pre-pandemic. In 2024, there were 481 violent crimes per 100,000 California residents. That’s around 188,552 violent crimes committed in all of 2024.

The person who can file a wrongful death case in California depends on the deceased’s familial relations. If there is a surviving spouse or registered domestic partner, they can be the ones to file. If there isn’t a spouse, the children can file, or the grandchildren, if the children are deceased.

Deadline to File Your Wrongful Death Claim in Rancho Cucamonga

Family members of the person who passed away generally have two years from the date of their death to file a wrongful death claim. However, if the death was a result of medical malpractice, that deadline extends to three years.

It’s important to hire a wrongful death attorney to help you file your claim and start the legal process. For residents of Rancho Cucamonga, this process is typically done at the Civil Division of the Rancho Cucamonga District, located at 8303 Haven Avenue.

While these deadlines are long, filing early can help increase your chances of a favorable outcome. It is easier to preserve necessary evidence, such as witness memories of the events and surveillance footage that caught the incident on tape. If these aren’t collected quickly, they may fade or disappear over time.

Finalizing a wrongful death case can help you close the legal chapter so you can properly start your mourning period.

California Wrongful Death Laws

The amount of compensation awarded in a wrongful death case is determined by what the court believes is a fair and reasonable amount. This compensation goes towards the surviving family members, not the deceased’s estate. The court can determine how to divide the compensation awarded. Damages that can be requested include:

• Loss of the deceased’s financial support, such as their income
• Loss of their healthcare benefits, such as a retirement account or insurance
• Loss of household care, such as cooking and taking care of children
• Loss of love and companionship
• Loss of guidance and emotional support
• Funeral and burial costs

The compensation earned in this type of case only recovers what the surviving family members have lost, not what the victim lost.

FAQs

How Much Does a Lawyer Charge for a Wrongful Death Case?

The amount that a lawyer charges for a wrongful death case depends on the complexities of the situation and the experience of the lawyer. Most complex cases and lawyers with more experience tend to cost more. When seeking legal representation, don’t agree to hire an attorney until you fully understand their monetary rates. It can be beneficial to research and meet with multiple lawyers, so you can pick your legal counsel with confidence.

What Is a Survival Action?

A survival action is a type of legal case that can be filed on top of a wrongful death case. Survival actions act as personal injury cases that the victim would have filed if they had survived. This allows their estate to recover damages for financial losses they suffered before passing away, their medical bills, lost wages, and potentially punitive damages.

For cases filed between January 2022 and January 2026, damages for pain, suffering, and disfigurement can be pursued.

What Evidence Should I Collect for My Wrongful Death Case?

You should collect as much evidence as possible for your wrongful death case. This evidence can include testimony from witnesses who saw the incident that caused your loved one’s death, copies of your loved one’s medical bills and records, copies of an incident report and 911 call, proof of your financial losses since their death, proof of your loved one’s income before they passed, and proof of your emotional losses since their death, such as a note from a therapist.

Can I File My Wrongful Death Claim Against Multiple Parties?

You may be able to file your wrongful death claim against multiple parties, depending on what the incident entailed and who was all involved. For example, if your loved one passed away at work due to a faulty machine, you may be able to file your claim against their employer and the supplier and manufacturer of the machine. This helps make sure every responsible party is held accountable. Your attorney can explain whom you can file your claim against.

Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney Today

Reach out to Duque & Price today to learn how our attorneys can assist you in your wrongful death case. We offer confidential and free consultations to new clients and 24-hour availability to answer further questions you may have about legal proceedings. We’re proud to represent clients living in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and surrounding Southern California areas.