The greatest fear of any parent is that something will happen to his or her child. Tragically, more than 6,000 children die every year from accidental injuries. Most of these deaths are preventable.
The wrongful death lawyers at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have represented parents throughout California and Nevada who have suffered the loss of a child.
Our wrongful death attorneys understand that the death of a child at any age can cause overwhelming emotional and physical pain and grief. We work with surviving parents to make those responsible for a child’s death pay for the terrible loss.
If you have lost a child because of the negligence or fault of another, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. To speak with a member of our legal team about your case, call us at (415) 981-7210 or contact the Walkup firm online.
A San Francisco Law Firm With The Experience To Help
Our team of California wrongful death attorneys has successfully handled cases involving a wide variety of situations, including:
- Dangerous playground equipment
- San Francisco car accidents
- School accidents
- Toxic household products
- Dangerous toys
- Drowning
- Falls
- Medical malpractice
We have litigated cases in which children were killed in car accidents, by medical mistakes, drowning in unsafe swimming pools, playing on dangerous playground equipment or playing with dangerous toys.
Our legal team has also taken many manufacturers to court for the needless deaths caused by children’s products. We have brought claims against manufacturers of faulty car seats, cribs, strollers and flammable children’s clothing, among other products.
Examples Of Our Successful Child Wrongful Death Cases
Car Accident – $7.2 Million Jury Verdict
Our auto accident team of wrongful death attorneys obtained a record jury verdict in the case of a 10-year-old girl who was fatally injured in an automobile accident. Walkup trial lawyers proved that the defendant car operator had been drinking, was impaired and should not have been driving. The jury’s verdict included compensation for both the parents’ loss of their daughter as well as the emotional trauma sustained by the mother, who witnessed the death of her daughter.
Car Accident – $4.5 Million Settlement
Our team represented a 14-year-old boy riding as a rear-seat passenger in a car that was involved in a head-on collision in Bakersfield, California. As the car approached a rural intersection, the driver found the roadway flooded. No warning signs had been erected. Although it had been raining earlier, it was not raining at the time of the collision. The flooded roadway caused the car to hydroplane and rotate, crossing into oncoming traffic and colliding head on with a car traveling in the opposite direction. California law recognizes that parents are entitled to general damages when a child has died. Our wrongful death specialists attempt to quantify the emotional trauma and demonstrate at trial or in mediation the loss caused by destruction of the parent-child relationship.
Defective Air Intake System – Confidential Settlement
Walkup wrongful death attorneys obtained a substantial confidential settlement on behalf of the mother of a student whose wrongful death came as a result of lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Upon returning from a European trip, the 22-year-old college senior was sleeping in a bedroom of the family’s home on a blustery September night. She turned on the heater, shut the bedroom door and went to sleep. She never woke up. While she slept, toxic levels of carbon monoxide gas permeated the room, filling her lungs. Due to the negligent manufacturing, production and maintenance of a gas-fired pool heater, our team was able to obtain a settlement that found the pool maintenance and device manufacturing companies liable.
Defective Hot Tub – $2.5 Million Settlement
Our attorneys negotiated a settlement on behalf of the parents of a 4-year-old girl who was fatally burned over 80 percent of her body in the family hot tub. Our attorneys demonstrated that the manufacturer of the hot tub had installed a defective thermostat, permitting the water to become unreasonably hot. The child survived for 61 days following the incident. The manufacturer of the hot tub paid the settlement.
Public Transportation Negligence – $2 Million Settlement
Walkup attorneys negotiated a combination cash and annuity settlement having a present value of $2 million on behalf of a 16-year-old girl who was struck by a San Francisco Municipal Railway LRV. At the time she was struck, she was crossing the street with a green light. The settlement was paid on behalf of the municipality. Although the defense attempted to prove that the child should have heard the approaching vehicle, our attorneys demonstrated that the child had done nothing wrong and that the injury was entirely the fault of the Municipal Railway driver.
Contact Our California Wrongful Death Law Firm
If you or someone you know has lost a child, contact our California child wrongful death lawyers today. To arrange a free consultation to discuss your case, call us at (415) 981-7210 or contact the Walkup firm online.
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger handles wrongful death cases throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Hayward and Vallejo.