Has your loved one died due to the negligence or intentional act of another person or company? Although nothing can undo such a grievous tragedy, it may be possible to recover compensation for funeral costs, loss of services the deceased provided, and other damages. Our Santa Barbara wrongful death attorneys can handle the logistics of your claim and help you fight for the highest settlement possible. We have the resources and experience to take on even the largest insurance companies. Our lawyers know the most effective strategies to employ at each stage of the proceedings, and we won’t settle for anything less than you deserve. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

Types of Wrongful Death Claims Our Santa Barbara Injury Attorneys Handle:

Each wrongful death case is unique, so it’s important that you enlist the help of a well-credentialed attorney who has the experience to tailor his or her legal strategies to your particular circumstances. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we have represented thousands of clients in cases of varying complexity, so we are able to anticipate and avoid disputes before they arise. Our attorneys will identify potential weaknesses in your claim and take the necessary steps to ensure your case is as strong as possible before settlement negotiations begin. Below are just a few kinds of wrongful death cases we handle in Santa Barbara:

• Bicycle and Scooter Accidents
• Truck, Car, Train, and Motorcycle Accidents
• Turo Vehicle Accidents
• Rideshare Accidents
• Tour, Public, and Other Bus Accidents
• Aircraft Accidents
• Premises Liability Wrongful Death Cases
• Boating Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Other Wrongful Death Cases

Factors That Influence the Potential Value of Wrongful Death Claims

There are all sorts of factors that can affect the financial award in a wrongful death case. Although no monetary figure can be placed on a person’s life, there are some widely accepted formulas for calculating various kinds of damages. It’s important that you hire an attorney who knows how to use those formulas as well as the relevant statutes and case law to maximize the potential value of your claim. Below are just a few factors that might affect the settlement calculations:

• The Deceased’s Age and Health: If the victim was young and healthy, the settlement award may be higher than it would be if he or she was old and unhealthy. The logic here is that a young person likely has many more years of income-earning potential, and would have been able to provide necessary services to his or her family for a longer amount of time. What would the victim’s life had been like if the accident didn’t happen? This is a key question your Santa Barbara wrongful death lawyer and the insurance company will consider before the settlement negotiations begin, and it could have a major influence on the outcome of your claim.
• The Deceased’s Vocational Skills and Education: How much income would the deceased have earned if he or she had survived? When answering this question, two factors that might be considered are the deceased’s vocational skills and education, which tend to have a major impact on a person’s income-earning potential.
• The Deceased’s Likely Career Trajectory: If the deceased had a well-defined career trajectory, your wrongful death lawyer might bring in an economic expert to determine his or her likely career path. The deposition and testimony of such an expert might be used to prove that the deceased’s income level would have increased over time had he or she survived, which could in turn increase the damages awarded.
• Anticipated Retirement Contributions: Your lawyer can account for any anticipated retirement contributions during the settlement negotiations.
• Inflation: The value of money tends to change over time due to inflation. This will likely be a consideration during the settlement negotiations.
• Whether Punitive Damages Are Warranted: If your family brings a survival action in addition to a wrongful death claim, it might be possible to recover a punitive damages award. Such an award will only be available if the defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud.

It’s not uncommon for surviving family members to overlook certain types of damages to which they are entitled. For example, if you won’t be able to stay afloat financially without the deceased’s income, you might be tempted to accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer, which might not account for all damages incurred. Our Santa Barbara wrongful death attorneys will consider all potentially recoverable damages during the settlement negotiations.

Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to Speak with a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Santa Barbara

Our lawyers are passionate about helping the injured and surviving family members fight for the compensation they need to move on with life. We’re available 24 hours a day to take your call. Dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS or send us a message online to set up a free case review.