When you experience the wrongful death of a loved via a bicycle collision, it is important to retain an attorney who understands the law in California. In California, the law (CACI 3921, CACI 3922 and CACI 3921A) lay out how monetary damages are awarded in wrongful death bicycle cases.

If a bicycle collision takes the life your child who is under 18-years-old at the time then CACI 3922 would apply. CACI 3922 is an instruction that is given to the jury by the judge. But, this jury instruction can also be used to get the other side to settle the case based on the law.

In California, the law allows for survivors to claim both past and future harm.

The law states past harm must be measured by the value of the financial support that the child would have contributed to the family based on their life expectancy. It also states that financial compensation must include gifts and benefits that the parents could have expected to receive from the minor. And it includes funerial and burial expenses along with the reasonable value of household services that the child would have provided.

The family of the deceased may also claim monetary damages for the following noneconomic damages: The loss of your child’s love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support.

Noneconomic damages are defined as items that you cannot easily put a value on. Think of it like this. Economic damage are easy to come up with. What is the value of a medical bill or a can of soda? A noneconomic damage has value that is unique to you. What is the value of your child’s love, the companionship they provided to you, the comfort that they brought?

Representing wrongful death victims and their survivors can separate good lawyers from bad lawyers as the law tells jurors that they must not consider grief, sorrow or pain and suffering. Thus, it is incumbent that a good attorney has the skills necessary to work with the family to tell jurors the human story of your child’s loss.

Attorney Melvin C. Belli understands that relationships are what make everyone’s harm and damages different. It is why you need an attorney who in your most painful time can work with you to identify the special relationship and then work on your behalf to ensure that you not only receive maximum compensation but also that your child’s death is not in vain.

This is not an easy discussion to have with an attorney. Attorney Belli understands that and will make the process as painless as possible.