Mansell and Mansell APC: The best wrongful death advocates in California.

If a person was killed due to someone else's negligent, willful, or wrongful acts, that person's survivors may pursue a cause of action known as wrongful death. This area of law seeks to provide compensation to a person's heirs for loss of the companionship and love of the decedent as well as to alleviate the financial burden caused by that person's death.

To lose someone in an accident or by the intentional acts of another person compounds an already devastating situation. Those who have suffered the death of a loved one can never be made fully whole by financial compensation alone. However, a wrongful death claim can attempt to provide a measure of relief to those struggling with the financial challenges of an unexpected death.

At the law firm of Mansell and Mansell APC, we fight on behalf of those with wrongful death claims to ensure they are provided for to the full extent possible. Attorney Robert Mansell has built a long-standing reputation as an exemplary advocate in the field of wrongful death by providing superior legal skill and personalized service for clients when they are most in need of compassionate counsel.

In a wrongful death situation, it is imperative to seek legal counsel as soon as possible in order to understand your rights and remedies as well as the legal time limits that may affect your case. Wrongful death lawyer Robert Mansell has 25 years of litigation experience, providing an acute understanding of the complex legal aspects of wrongful death paired with a first-rate support staff ready to assist clients at every step of the legal process.

Standing for Wrongful Death

Standing for wrongful death in California is defined under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. A surviving spouse and children may pursue a claim. Where a child has previously died, that child's children may assert standing as well. Where there are no children or other issue, the person who would be next in line under the California intestacy statutes may assert wrongful death standing.

Some other categories of people may be able to assert standing as well. For example, if dependent on decedent, a person's parents and/or stepchildren may be able to establish standing. Additionally, a dependent putative spouse and/or children of the putative spouse may have standing as well. (A putative spouse is a person who had a reasonable, good-faith belief that he or she was truly married to the decedent.)

Additionally, there may be instances where a non-related child may be able to assert standing as well. Under CCP Section 377.6 (c), a minor child who lived with decedent for 180 days prior to death and who relied on decedent for more than half of his or her support can seek standing in a wrongful death claim.

Wrongful Death Damages

In a wrongful death action, a person with standing can seek economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are actual monetary expenses associated with someone's death. These can include medical expenses, funeral expenses, and loss of decedent's future earnings. Noneconomic damages are those that cannot be defined in straight financial terms alone. This might include pain and suffering as well as the loss of companionship and intimacy resulting from a person's death.

Free Wrongful Death Attorney Consultation

Seeking legal counsel may be the last thing on the mind of a person coping with the loss of a loved one. Nevertheless, it is important to consider your legal situation as soon as possible in order to act within the required time frame, preserve evidence, and make informed decisions about your immediate future.

To speak with an experienced wrongful death advocate about your case, contact us now. You can schedule a free, in-person or telephone meeting with injury attorney Robert Mansell at your convenience. Contact us through our secure, confidential online form or call (323) 800-0000 any time.

The consultation is free. Should you choose Mansell and Mansell to pursue your case, the firm will advance all costs and fees to forward your case. You will owe no attorney's fees unless and until we secure a recovery on your behalf.

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