Q: My father was killed in an accident that was not his fault. As a result, I ended up with an inheritance. Will the inheritance count against me if I sue the wrongdoer who caused my father’s death?
A: No. At least not in a case in California. It’s not what you received as a
Opinion Rejects Common Caltrans Defense Strategy
Chris Chandler was killed as he crossed busy El Camino Real in a marked crosswalk. We argued at trial that Caltrans should have known that the crosswalk was dangerous because of an accident that occurred in a similar crosswalk 20 miles away. The jury agreed, and awarded the
After a jury verdict in their favor, the Chandler family seeks to make El Camino crosswalks safe for others.
Chris Chandler, age 62, was hit by a car and killed crossing El Camino in Atherton. The driver said he never saw Chris. The police blamed Chris for riding his bike into traffic without looking.
We proved that Chris was killed because the crosswalk was essentially invisible to oncoming
motorists and that Caltrans should never
Owen Goldsmith was 82. He had lived in Calaveras for more than 30 years. When the Butte fire threatened his home, he decided to stay and fight it. 
On Tuesday, our Butte Fire legal team filed a wrongful death suit against PG&E in San Francisco on behalf of Goldsmith’s family. His daughter spoke to
A family member who has lost a loved one due to the negligence of another is entitled to be compensated for his or her loss. In most jurisdictions, that compensation properly includes money to replace the financial support the family member would have received from the loved one had the accident never happened. Here are
Of course a wife is entitled to recover against the wrongdoer who caused the death of her loving husband. But what if the husband had long ago abandoned her? Without a loving relationship or continuous support, is the "forgotten widow" entitled to any compensation at all?
In most cases, yes, because the forgotten widow or
Waivers signed by parents, releasing liability for future negligent acts committed against minor children in recreational and related settings, are generally enforced by judges in California as discussed here. 
Interestingly, a clear majority of courts in other states have held that a parent may not release a minor’s prospective claim for negligence.
And when the
When you lose a family member, the loss feels immeasurable. But for your family’s claim, it’s important to think about all of the ways your life has been affected. The law permits the family of a victim to be compensated for loss of support, services and companionship.
Loss of support (the amount that the victim would
Only certain family members are allowed to sue for the death of a loved one. Under California law, the following are allowed to sue:
