Children's Deaths

Representing Parents Of Children Killed Though Negligence

California Child Death Attorneys

The leading cause of death in children over one year of age is trauma. Each year, more than 6,000 children die from accidental injury. Over 14,000,000 children are hurt each year from carelessness.

Our team of California child death injury attorneys have represented parents whose children have been killed by unsafe swimming pools, dangerous toys and dangerous playground equipment. The makers of defective products, including faulty car seats and strollers, flammable children's clothing are also common defendants in causing the needless deaths of children. The misdiagnosis of an illness or negligent treatment of an illness are examples of medical malpractice that may cause the negligent death of children.

Our team of attorneys understands that the death of a child produces emotional, physical, overwhelming and unexpected pain, grief and loss.

At Walkup, we understand that children are our greatest asset. They carry on our hopes, dreams and aspirations. The death or serious injury of a child is an event that impacts the lives of those who care for him or her. If you have lost a child because of the negligence or fault of another, contact us today.

We have successfully handled cases involving:

• Playground Equipment
• Auto Accidents
• School Accidents
• Drowning
• Toys
• Poisoning
• Medical Malpractice
• Falls

Examples of Our Success

Skull Fracture During Delivery - Infant Death

Our medical negligence wrongful death lawyers negotiated a confidential settlement on behalf of the parents of an infant who died from skull fractures he sustained during delivery. Our deposition exam of the defendant obstetrician revealed that he recognized that the infant's ability to pass through the birth canal was compromised. Rather than proceeding to a cesarean section, the physician employed metal forceps to engage the infant's head to advance the delivery. Imaging studies showed massive cranial fractures, and the infant died shortly after birth. The father had witnessed the horrific delivery, and a portion of the settlement was attributed to his claim for emotional distress.

Defective Hot Tub - $2,500,000 Wrongful Death Settlement

Our attorneys negotiated a settlement in the amount of $2,500,000 on behalf of the parents of a 4-year-old girl who was burned over 80% of her body while bathing in the family hot tub. Our attorneys demonstrated that the manufacturer of the hot tub had installed a defective thermostat, permitting the water to become unreasonably hot. The child survived for 61 days following the incident. The settlement was paid by the manufacturer of the hot tub.

Public Transportation Negligence - $2,000,000 Settlement

Walkup attorneys negotiated a combination cash and annuity settlement having a present value of $2,000,000 on behalf of a 16-year-old girl who was struck by a San Francisco Municipal Railway LRV. At the time she was struck, she was crossing the street with a green light. The settlement was paid on behalf of the municipality. Although the defense attempted to prove that the child should have heard the approaching vehicle, our attorneys demonstrated that the child had done nothing wrong, and that the injury was entirely the fault of the Municipal Railway driver.

Automobile Accident - $4,500,000 Settlement

Our team represented a 14-year-old boy riding as a rear seat passenger in a car that was involved in a head-on collision in Bakersfield, California. As the car encountered a rural intersection, the driver found the roadway flooded. No warning signs had been erected. Although it had been raining earlier, it was not raining at the time of the collision. The flooded roadway caused the car to hydroplane and rotate, crossing into oncoming traffic, and colliding head-on with a car traveling in the opposite direction.

Birth Trauma - $4,100,000 Arbitration Award

Our team of attorneys obtained a binding arbitration award against the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan following negligent delivery at the Kaiser Hospital at Redwood City, California. Our attorneys proved that the child endured a severe hypoxic injury when his mother's uterus ruptured during labor because the attending midwife negligently managed the mother's delivery and failed to reduce or stop the administration of Pitocin, a labor-enhancing drug. Our team also demonstrated that the nurses left the mother unattended before the uterine rupture, which resulted in their failure to timely note the ominous signs of fetal distress.

The death of a child is a tragedy which no parent should be required to endure. The wrongful death lawyers at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have represented parents throughout California and Nevada that have suffered the tragedy of losing a child. Our attorneys have prosecuted cases involving the deaths of infants, toddlers, adolescents and adult children. Our wrongful death specialists recognize the lifetime of loss which is caused by the death a child. Our child death specialists work compassionately with surviving parents to make careless defendants pay for the terrible loss caused through their negligence.

California law recognizes that parents are entitled to general damages when a child has died. Our wrongful death specialists attempt to quantify the emotional trauma and demonstrate at trial, or in mediation, the loss caused by destruction of the parent-child relationship. Our attorneys realize that proper compensation in these cases does not deal with lost financial support - rather, proper compensation must involve paying survivors for the loss of a child's love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection and moral support.

If you have lost a child, or someone you know has lost a child through the negligence or carelessness of another, a surgical error, a traffic accident, a birth injury, or any other cause, contact our California child wrongful death lawyers today. Make an appointment for a free consultation. 1.888.732.8897 or 1.415.981.7210.

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The wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger represent the families of wrongful death victims in California and Nevada including the cities of San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Fresno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, Concord, San Rafael, Napa, Redwood City, Stockton, Modesto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno, Las Vegas, Elko, Carson City, and Tahoe.