Posts Tagged ‘ Wrongful Death’

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Appraisal of Earnings in an Orange County Wrongful Death Case

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

As mentioned in my previous article, What Type of Damages Can Be Collected in an Orange County Wrongful Death Action, damages can be collected in a wrongful death case for a variety of losses, including funeral and burial costs, lost earnings, and loss of household services. In this article, I will focus on just one of these damages—lost earnings—and discuss how this value is appraised.

An appraisal of lost earnings potential includes a few different factors. The simplest (and usually the largest) is called “basic earnings.” This refers to the amount of money the deceased person would have been expected to earn if he or she had lived out the rest of his or her work life. “Incentive earnings” include stock options and bonuses. The value of incentive earnings is usually only a large percentage of overall earnings for business executives. Fringe benefits (also called “supplementary payments”) are also recoverable. These include employer-financed retirement plans, insurance, and health benefits.

An experienced Orange County wrongful death attorney will be able to help give you an idea about how much this will all amount too. Keep in mind, though, that once these values are calculated and adjusted for the life expectancy of the deceased person and for inflation, there will be a deduction for personal consumption—money the deceased person would have spent on him- or herself during his or her lifetime.

If you have lost a spouse, parent, or other family member and you believe you are eligible to file an action for wrongful death, please call Orange County wrongful death lawyer Samer Habbas at (888) 848-5084 to schedule a free case evaluation.

What Type of Damages Can Be Collected in an Orange County Wrongful Death Action?

Monday, August 1st, 2011

The loss of a loved one is a terrible blow from which it is hard to recover. It takes a severe emotional toll on the family of the deceased person, and can cause significant financial hardships, too. These feelings may be amplified in the case of a wrongful death—a situation where the person would not have died if not for the careless, negligent, reckless, or intentional behavior of another person.

No money can bring back a lost loved one, of course, but an experienced Orange County wrongful death lawyer can help you recover from the financial hardships you have encountered in the aftermath of the death of a family member. The most obvious of these are funeral and burial costs and the loss of income from the job of the deceased person. Somewhat less obvious is the value of the household services provided. Although the deceased person was probably not paid for these services when he or she was alive, they were a contribution to the household’s well-being that will now need to be performed by someone else.

Damages for mental and emotional distress are not available to the family of the deceased person because of grief and sorrow. However, damages may be available for loss of love, care, comfort, advice, and guidance that he or she provided.

If you have lost a spouse, parent, or other family member, you may be able to file an action to recover some of the financial costs that you have incurred as a result of his or her wrongful death. Contact an Orange County wrongful death lawyer to learn more about protecting your rights and obtaining the financial help you deserve. For a free case evaluation, please call Orange County personal injury attorney Samer Habbas at (888) 848-5084.

Plane Crash in Mexico Kills Four Californians

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

California officials are investigating a plane crash that occurred on a Sunday afternoon in which four Californian aid workers died across the U.S./Mexico border in Baja California.

A Beechcraft A36 took off in Ensenada and was apparently bound for San Quintin. Experts said the plane hit a foothill that was projecting up nearly 4,000 feet, and it landed in a mesa area in the tough terrain around Baja. Those on board were two doctors, a medic and the pilot.

The FAA is conducting an investigation into this incident with Mexican authorities.

Airplane accidents are a major cause of fatality in California and across the country. Small planes are specifically vulnerable to different kinds of catastrophic landing scenarios. Many of these involve bad weather and resulting poor visibility, but many others involve lack of pilot training, pilot distraction or some other type of human error. Poor judgment on the part of a pilot can doom an entire flight, and even the most elite small plane services still leave passengers with a certain amount of risk.

When California citizens and families have to handle a tragic loss in a plane crash situation, many rely on professional wrongful death attorneys to look into the details of the case to establish what factors contributed to the crash and whether the transport company or other parties may have liability.

If a plane crash death has affected your family, call the Orange County wrongful death lawyer at The Law Offices of Samer Habbas. Mr. Habbas has a long track record of working with many clients and arranging fair settlements. He will give your case the attention and compassion that it needs, keeping you in the loop about everything that goes on with your wrongful death or personal injury claim. Call 888-848-5084 a free consultation to learn about your rights under the law.

Film Editor Found Dead in Local Park

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Initial police reports on the discovered body of a missing hiker typify the kind of situation where vague details can leave open the possibility of a wrongful death scenario.

According to local news reports, police found the body of 56-year-old Sally Menke on September 28 in Griffin Park, a local green area in Los Angeles near Glendale. Menke is known for editing credits on several of the popular Quentin Tarantino film productions.

Reports indicate the L.A. coroner’s office is identifying heat stroke as the probable cause of death and that Menke had her dog and her cell phone with her on the hike.

As law enforcement officials look at what could have happened in Griffith Park, there is still the possibility of a changing theory in this case. A death that occurred out of sight of witnesses can turn into a complex case, and many families are reluctant to simply accept the initial reports from the coroner about what happened to a loved one.

When families are dealing with this kind of fatality, they often rely on professional personal injury and wrongful death lawyers to help investigate whether any third parties had liability in the death. An attorney can help clarify the facts of a case and present clients with their options for pursuing a wrongful death claim.

If someone in your family has passed away under dubious circumstances, call Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer Samer Habbas. Mr. Habbas will help you build your case the right way, providing attentive, compassionate service. Contact The Law Offices of Samer Habbas today at 888-848-5084. We have the experience and knowledge to assist you and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Car Thief Pins Officer, Speeds Away

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

In a disturbing September 28 incident, California Highway Patrol police report that a driver of a stolen vehicle struck an officer and then fled the scene after a traffic violation stop.

Reports indicate police recovered the vehicle, but never found the driver. The car took off after police stopped the driver at Eastern Avenue and Whittier Boulevard near the Long Beach Freeway. The response of the driver seems to have been motivated by the fear of being caught driving the stolen vehicle. The officer did not suffer significant injuries, according to the recent news story.

Public hazards can result when a driver involved in criminal activity then has a confrontation with law enforcement. These situations threaten public health and safety and can lead to personal injury or wrongful death situations in which victims need to obtain legal counsel in order to assess liability and seek damages. A criminal fleeing the scene of an accident is one of the most dangerous types of drivers that any of us will encounter on the road. That’s why law enforcement has to use the utmost caution in pursuing and detaining individuals.

If you have experienced an car accident injury caused by an out-of-control driver, contact The Law Offices of Samer Habbas. Our Los Angeles auto accident lawyer can handle your case professionally, and he has your best interests in mind. Mr. Habbas has years of experience representing clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We can help you get the compensation that you deserve under the law. Call 888-848-5084 today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.

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