The lawyers of Bowles & Verna routinely fight for the people of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. We are strong advocates for injury victims located throughout the Bay Area, and have helped clients with personal injury and wrongful death claims.
Losing a loved one can be extremely difficult, and it’s especially hard when your loved one has died in an auto accident. Let’s take a moment to consider the what your legal options are when it comes to fatal auto accidents.
Statistics on Fatal Car Accidents
In 2015, there were 32,166 fatal auto accidents that led to 35,092 deaths in the United States. This was a 10% increase from 2014, in which there were 32,675 total auto accidents. During 2015 in the state of California alone there were 2,925 fatal auto crashes that resulted in 3,176 deaths.
The only state that surpassed California in fatal collisions during 2015 was Texas, which had 3,124 fatal collisions causing 3,516 deaths.
Deadliest Kinds of Auto Accidents
Head-on collisions are the deadliest kinds of auto accidents in general, which is to be expected given the amount of force generated from two colliding vehicles. T-bone auto accidents can also be very deadly given how fragile the driver’s side and passenger’s side of a vehicle is compared to the front end of a vehicle. Rollovers are also rather deadly, and are caused by
While these types of collisions are quite deadly, that should not
The Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Cases
Following a fatal auto accident, it’s important that you act quickly to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver or party. There is a set amount of time during which legal action should be taken. This is known as the statute of limitations. You will not be able to seek legal action after the statute of limitations has passed.
In the state of California, the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits is two years from the date of death. While that may seem like a lot of time, it is always best to seek legal action as soon as possible.
Damages Sought in Wrongful Death Lawsuits
During a wrongful death lawsuit, damages will be sought to cover a variety of matters related to the case. They can be broken up into two kinds of damages compensatory damages and punitive damages.
- Compensatory damages are intended to cover material losses that are linked to the loss of a loved one, such as funerary costs, damage to a vehicle, lost future earnings, the loss of companionship, and so forth.
- Punitive damages are sought to punish the negligent party and deter future actions from occurring again in the future.
How Experienced Wrongful Death Attorneys Can Help
The loss of a loved one can be a trying and difficult time. The complexities of the legal system do not help matters, taking time away that could be spent mourning and planning for future challenges. By working with skilled attorneys, you will get the legal help you so desperately need. Your attorney can focus on the filings and complexities of the law while you get to focus on the new realities of day-to-day life. We will help you through responsible counsel and peace of mind.
Learn More About Your Legal Options
For more information about your legal options in wrongful death and auto accident cases, be sure to contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. The legal team at Bowles & Verna is here to help you in your time of legal need.