If you are here today because you have lost a loved one due to the careless or negligent actions of another person, please accept our condolences. At Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, our Stockton wrongful death lawyers are here to help. We pledge to thoroughly investigate what happened so we can help ensure you receive justice and compensation for what happened.
Why choose Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger for your case?
When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, turn to a trusted attorney for help with your case. Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger is here for you today.
- Our Stockton wrongful death attorneys have been helping families in these situations for more than six decades.
- We have an unmatched record of multimillion-dollar verdict and settlement results, and our success rate is over 98%.
- We have the resources necessary to gather all evidence and documents and enlist expert help when working to prove your case.
Our team understands that grieving families are often in difficult financial situations, which is why we take Stockton wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we collect no legal fees until we obtain a favorable settlement or verdict on behalf of the client.
How do Stockton wrongful death claims arise?
Unfortunately, there are many ways in which a Stockton wrongful death case can arise. These lawsuits can be initiated anytime a death occurs due to the negligent or intentional actions of another person, company, or entity. While this is certainly not an all-inclusive list, the Stockton wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have extensive experience helping families who have lost a loved one due to the following:
- Car accidents
- Semi-truck crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian bicycle accidents
- Construction and workplace accidents
- Dangerous or defective products
- Medical negligence
- Nursing home abuse
Who can file a wrongful death claim?
When we turn to California’s Code of Civil Procedure 377.60, we can see that there are various family members (or estate representatives) who may be able to bring wrongful death claims. The statutes allow for the following people to file these lawsuits (in order of precedence):
- The spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
- Children of the deceased if there is no surviving spouse or partner
- Grandchildren of the deceased if there are no surviving children
- Stepchildren who were dependent on the deceased
- Any other party who would be entitled to the deceased’s property (California intestate succession laws)
In general, family members will have two years based on the statute of limitations to file a claim against an alleged negligent party. This time limit may differ depending on the circumstances of the case, particularly for incidents of medical negligence or criminal actions.
How much compensation is available?
The total amount of compensation that families are awarded in these cases will vary depending on the circumstances surrounding each particular situation. At Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, we have an extensive track record of success securing multimillion-dollar settlements for clients. This includes a $1.3 million settlement for failure to diagnose bladder cancer that led to a death and a $2 million settlement for the family of a construction worker who died after a fall at the construction site.
Let our team conduct a thorough investigation into your claim so we can secure your compensation for loss of future income and benefits of the deceased, loss of consortium and companionship damages, pain and suffering damages, and possible punitive damages against the negligent party. When you need a Stockton wrongful death attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling (415) 981-7210.
