Wrongful Death of a Minor in Westlake Village

Ideally, a parent should never have to think about the value of their child’s life in financial terms, as no amount of money could come close to making up for a child’s wrongful death. Tragically, far too many families face this nightmare every year across the state of California, often due entirely to someone else’s misconduct.

Filing suit over the wrongful death of a minor in Westlake Village is one of the most legally and personally challenging cases you can undertake, and it is not something you should have to handle on your own. Support from a compassionate wrongful death attorney can be key not only to getting the best possible resolution from your unique claim but also to managing your heartache and grief while pursuing the compensation you need.

When Is It Possible To Sue Over a Child’s Wrongful Death?

As with any type of personal injury litigation, it is possible to file suit in Westlake Village over the wrongful death of a minor if that wrongful death stems directly and primarily from another person’s irresponsible or illegal actions. However, one important trait that wrongful death claims share with standard personal injury claims is the statute of limitations, so it is only possible to file this kind of claim within the first two years after a minor’s death.

If a child’s wrongful death stems from someone else’s reckless or careless actions and was simply a tragic accident, anyone who has custody of the child—or who is responsible for caring for them on a regular basis—can file or potentially join in on an existing wrongful death claim. However, if the death stemmed from an intentional criminal act, the child’s parent(s), legal guardian(s), or grandparent(s) are the only people with standing to file suit, typically in that order of priority.

Recovering for All Available Damages

If not divorced or separated, both of the deceased minor’s parents have a right to recover compensation through a Westlake Village wrongful death claim built around their child’s premature death. Unfortunately, assigning a fair financial value to this sort of claim can be more challenging than with other types of wrongful death litigation, since very little information exists about what the rest of a minor child’s life would have looked like were it not for their fatal injury.

Each case is unique, but factors that often play into the valuation of a lawsuit or settlement demand over a minor’s wrongful death include:

• The child’s age when they passed away, as well as their gender, overall physical condition, and sometimes their performance in school
• The child’s future career prospects if they were in high school and close to entering the workforce
• The child’s personal habits and lifestyle choices
• The age and physical condition of the individuals seeking compensation for the minor’s wrongful death
• The relationship each plaintiff had with the deceased child

A qualified lawyer can help establish the true impact of a young person’s untimely death and emphasize certain factors over others to achieve an optimal case result.

Contact a Westlake Village Attorney To Help You File Suit Over the Wrongful Death of a Minor

No parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child, and certainly not if that loss happens because of another person’s misconduct. However, if you are in this incomparable situation, you should know there is support available to help you seek financial compensation to the fullest extent that the civil court system can provide for the harm this tragedy will cause you.

An experienced wrongful death lawyer can be an invaluable ally throughout the legal process following the wrongful death of a minor in Westlake Village. Call today for a confidential consultation.