Supportive Wrongful Death Lawyers in Vallejo and Fairfield-Suisun

About wrongful death

When your loved one suffers one or more fatal injuries that were the result of negligence, recklessness or carelessness, it is time to consult an attorney from the law firm of Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC and review your options for filing a wrongful death claim. In a successful lawsuit, you can sue the person or party responsible for the death of your loved one and receive the following types of compensation:

  • Payment of medical bills
  • Coverage of funeral and burial costs
  • Compensation for property damage
  • Financial compensation for loss of income
  • Consideration for emotional losses such as loss of love, affection and companionship; loss of society; loss of benefits; loss of household services; and other mental anguish, pain and suffering

Wrongful death statistics

The California Department of Public Health reports that statewide, more than 15,000 individuals die annually because of an injury. Nationally, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) names unintentional injury as the leading cause of death. The types of accidents considered in these statistics include the following:


  • Medical errors
  • Occupational mishaps
  • Dangerous premises accidents
  • Defective products

Filing a claim in California

Monetary compensation may not feel like an adequate replacement for the loss of your loved one, but it can help provide for a future without the income he or she once contributed to your household.

But not everyone has standing to file a wrongful death claim. In California, any individual who meets one of the following requirements may file a lawsuit for wrongful death benefits:

  • He or she is the surviving spouse, domestic partner, child or dependent grandchild of the deceased
  • He or she is dependent on the deceased in another way, such as the surviving putative spouse (not legally married to the deceased, but believed in good faith to have been in a valid marriage with the deceased), child of a putative spouse, stepchild or parent
  • He or she is a minor who had lived in the deceased’s household for at least 180 days prior to the death and depended on the deceased for at least half of his or her financial support.

Another important note regarding wrongful death litigation is that any claims for benefits are handled in civil court. Depending on the circumstances of the death, a criminal murder or manslaughter case may also occur. These two types of litigation are separate from each other and the outcome of one has no bearing on the outcome of the other In other words, you may win your civil claim for wrongful death benefits, but the defendant could still be acquitted in his or her manslaughter or murder trial.

Seek the compensation to which you are entitled with help from our Fairfield-Suisun and Vallejo attorneys

At the law firm of Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC, we are sympathetic to the pain you are going through. Let us support you through this time and help you obtain rightful compensation for your loss. Call our lawyers at 707-552-3630 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Our availability is flexible, and we are happy to schedule appointments outside the normal workday hours at your convenience. Members of our staff speak Spanish, and we also offer Tagalog and Ilocano translation services. Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC maintains offices in Vallejo and Fairfield-Suisun, California, and represents clients throughout Solano County, Contra Costa County and Napa County.