San Francisco, CA medical malpractice attorney Nathaniel Leeds discusses who can bring a wrongful death suit. He explains that wrongful death cases are broad in scope and are generally brought on behalf of the surviving family—most often a spouse or children. The purpose of these cases is to secure compensation for the loss of care, comfort, support, and companionship that the deceased provided.

When the decedent leaves behind small children, the consequences are particularly profound. The loss of a mother or father means the children no longer receive the same level of care and support they otherwise would have had. While much of this loss is emotional, there are also significant practical burdens. A transition from a two-parent household to a one-parent household places additional strain on the surviving parent. In situations where the deceased was a single parent, the tragedy is compounded, as the children are left orphaned. In such cases, the focus shifts to ensuring the children receive the care, nurturing, and financial support they need to reach adulthood, comparable to what they would have received had their parent not died due to negligence.

Spouses also experience devastating consequences, particularly when they relied on the deceased for financial stability. For a surviving spouse unable to find sufficient financial support after the loss of a husband or wife, he and his firm work to recover compensation so the spouse can maintain a standard of living close to what they would have shared had the negligence not occurred. He stresses that it is never the fault of the surviving spouse or children when a loved one’s life is cut short by medical malpractice, and his role is to hold the responsible parties accountable.