Who can be held liable for a wrongful death?

When someone passes away due to the negligence or misconduct of another person or entity, that is considered a wrongful death in California. Under California’s wrongful death laws, certain people can be held liable for the death. The most common person held liable is the person found to be at fault for the death. This could be a person operating a vehicle, a doctor performing care, or even a property owner who failed to prevent a dangerous condition. Liability could also attach to an employer if the at-fault person was working at the time of the incident. In some cases, fault can also be attributed to someone other than the at-fault person. As an example, if a person was drinking alcoholic beverages and then killed someone while driving, the bar that served the alcohol may be held liable if they over-served the person. In addition, a company that manufactured a dangerous or faulty product could also be held liable if that product caused the death. For example, a car manufacturer could be liable if a faulty seatbelt contributed to the death. Lastly, a government agency could be held liable for the death if their negligence or inadequate safety regulations contributed to it. In wrongful death cases, many different people or entities can be held liable depending on the circumstances of the death. It is important to seek legal counsel if you believe you have a wrongful death case. An experienced attorney can help you determine who can be held liable for the death and can help you seek compensation for your loss.

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