Thousands of workers lose their lives in work-related accidents every year in the U.S. On an average, 12 workers lose their lives on the job each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Every work-related death should be thoroughly investigated, and that investigation should not just be left to an insurance company or law enforcement if there is any question of negligence or misconduct on behalf of an individual, company or a third party.
An experienced California wrongful death attorney will evaluate your case at no charge. At Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP, our partner attorneys have more than 60 years of combined experience investigating wrongful death claims throughout Northern and Southern California. With offices in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, we offer convenience and one-on-one service to our clients.
Call us at (510) 433-1000 to schedule a free consultation.
How We Can Help
If we take on your case: We will launch a private investigation into the matter. The sooner you contact our law firm, the sooner we can get to work to preserve evidence; consult occupational accident, medical and economic experts; and prepare your case for the complex litigation that the defendant party in the case is sure to fight vigorously.
Causes of fatal occupational accidents and wrongful death include transportation incidents; assaults and violent acts; contact with objects or machinery; falls; exposure to harmful substances or environments; and fires and explosions.
Wrongful Death Claim Vs. Workers’ Compensation Claim
The workers’ compensation system has a specific purpose to award fixed monetary compensation to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. Employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which helps them and workers avoid claims in court.
Workers are not required to prove negligence or wrongdoing to receive workers’ compensation benefits, but plaintiffs in a civil wrongful death on the job case, normally filed against wrongdoers other than employers, are required to prove fault.
A wrongful death case, however, holds far better potential for obtaining the monetary award to which the heirs of a deceased person are entitled. Insurance is unlikely to account for many future needs. In a wrongful death case, our attorneys fight for your maximum compensation, including:
- Medical costs and funeral expenses
- Loss of future monetary contributions and personal support, advice, training, services and inheritance from the decedent
- Loss of love, companionship, comfort, society, affection, solace or moral support
We examine possible fault by third parties (people and entities other than the employer), including co-workers, defective product manufacturers, subcontractors and others.
In California, the number of fatal occupational injuries was 326 in 2010 and 409 in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Latino workers, in particular, are at risk. In Los Angeles County, where nearly one quarter of the state’s fatalities occur, the fatality rate among Latino workers is 50 percent higher than that of non-Latino workers.
Berkeley-Area Wrongful Death Lawyers Responsive To Your Needs
Contact our offices at (510) 433-1000 toll free to schedule a free initial consultation with a San Francisco, Los Angeles or Oakland fatal work accident lawyer.
Our lawyers are committed to your best interests. We pursue all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay no attorney fees unless we obtain compensation in your case.