Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer
Hundreds of Millions Recovered for Our Clients
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in a preventable accident caused by negligence or carelessness, we know there is nothing that can compensate the amount of pain and loss you now feel. However, it is important to understand that you and your family may find yourselves facing a number of costly expenses such as funeral costs, lost wages, and more.
At Biren Law Group, we seek to minimize the levels of stress our clients face by pursuing compensation to cover the costs associated with their unexpected loss. Over the last several decades, our Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys have helped thousands of clients, securing more than half a billion of dollars on their behalf. You can trust that we are well-equipped to represent your best interests. These types of cases are time-sensitive, so please don't wait to call.
Wrongful Death Cases We Have Handled
- $4 million settlement – Marthe v. Trotter
- $2.7 million settlement – Joseph v. Lovejoy
- $1.5 million settlement – Williams v. Doe Water Park
- $1.4 million settlement – Westerberg v. Roy George Rentals
- Confidential settlement – Richardson v. Marathon LeTourneau
- Confidential settlement – Doe Families v. Roe Railroad
Get started with a FREE, no-risk consultation by contacting our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers at Biren Law Group: (310) 896-4345. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay anything unless we recover compensation for you.
Let Biren Law Group Help Your Family
The team at Biren Law Group has helped many families maximize their compensation after a fatal accident. Time and again, we have found liability where it was difficult to uncover—even after other firms gave up. With the help of expert economists and other specialists, we have a proven track record of presenting compelling claims.
We handle all types of wrongful death cases, including those that involve:
Sometimes a wrongful death claim is straightforward, but in many cases, there are complications that require the creative analysis of lawyers who know how to uncover hidden fault for the death. The team at Biren Law Group is prepared to tackle difficult cases and has a proven track record of finding liability where others have failed.
Issues that commonly arise in wrongful death cases:
- There may be multiple liable parties: in certain wrongful death cases, there may be multiple liable parties—not all of which may be covered by insurance. In these cases, Biren Law Group will focus on proving that a majority of the liability lies with the parties who have the resources to pay your damages.
- There may be substantial medical bills: if your family member was in the hospital before they passed away, incurring significant medical bills, our attorneys can help make sure that these bills are resolved through the wrongful death case. You and your family should not be responsible for paying these expenses.
- Calculating loss of potential earnings: in many wrongful death cases, the victim dies before achieving maximum earning capacity. The attorneys at Biren Law Group have the experience to appreciate this fact, which is why we work with vocational experts and economists to maximize the value of your claim.
When your family is ready to consider the legal aspects of your loved one's death, the team at Biren Law Group is available for a free consultation to discuss your rights and options. We will thoroughly investigate every aspect of your family member's death to determine what went wrong and who is potentially liable. We also excel at communicating the magnitude of your loss so that the jury awards you maximum compensation for the death of your loved one.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in CA?
When an individual dies as a result of a wrongful act or negligence, this is considered a wrongful death in the state of California. The wrongful act or negligence can be committed by either an entity or another individual. Unlike a criminal case, a wrongful death claim results in monetary damages paid out to heirs of the decedent. However, all states govern wrongful death claims with their own set of statutes and rules, including who is eligible for filing such a claim.
Those who are allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit in the state of California include:
- The surviving spouse of the deceased.
- The (registered) domestic partner of the deceased.
- The surviving children of the deceased.
- If there are no surviving children, then parents.
- Others, under limited circumstances.
California allows other parties to file the lawsuit if it can be shown that they were financially dependent on the decedent, such as a putative spouse, the putative spouse’s children, stepchildren, and parents.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover?
The damages that may be recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit are dependent on a number of factors; the individual facts of each case will be the determining factor regarding the damages awarded. For instance, the court may consider the age of the decedent and earning capacity to determine the value of the losses suffered by the surviving family. There are some general losses that are attributed to the estate and some that are attributed to the surviving family members.
The estate of the deceased individual may be eligible to receive compensation for funeral and burial expenses, medical bills from the date of injury until the date of death, and the loss of past and potential income that would have reasonably been expected had the individual survived. The surviving family members may be compensated for the lost value of household services, lost financial support, and lost guidance, love, affection, moral support, and companionship.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Los Angeles can help you seek maximum compensation for your loss.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for wrongful death in California is two years from the date of your loved one's death. However, it is imperative that you act as quickly as possible to retain legal counsel because evidence that is crucial to proving your case may disappear. We understand that you and your family need time to mourn. We are respectful of these needs, but we do urge you to act promptly so we can act to discover who was responsible for your loved one's death.
When to Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer
Because California’s wrongful death statute outlines the rules and procedures for pursuing a lawsuit, and because those rules can impact one’s ability to bring legal action and the overall trajectory of a case, our firm wanted to address a few important points to help families better understand their rights and when they should contact an attorney.
You should contact a wrongful death attorney when:
- Negligence or wrongful acts caused death – Whether or not you are able to pursue a wrongful death action over the loss of a loved one depends on the circumstances surrounding their death. Under California law, wrongful death lawsuits can only be filed when they have a basis in negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongful acts. For example, families may not have a valid claim when their loved one died in an accident where they were found to be at fault. However, they may have grounds for a claim when the negligence of another more likely than not caused a preventable accident that led to their loved one’s passing. Proving negligence, or an intentional act of wrongdoing, is the foundation of any wrongful death claim, and it is a requirement that must be met in order for families to take civil action under the law.
- You are eligible to bring legal action under law – Under § 377.60 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, only certain family members, or their personal representatives, are eligible to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. These include immediate family members commonly impacted by their loved one’s death, including spouses or domestic partners, surviving children, and grandchildren (if there are no surviving children). In some cases, eligible parties may also include minor children dependent on the deceased, or other parties who may have been entitled to the deceased’s estate under intestate succession laws. Our team can assist you in determining your eligibility to bring a wrongful death action based on your relationship to your loved one.
- Loss created damages – While California’s wrongful death law provides an opportunity to hold wrongdoers civilly accountable for causing preventable death, it can also prove instrumental in helping the families of these victims manage the resulting financial and emotional losses. When the loss of your loved one creates economic burdens due to medical expenses, funeral costs, and lost financial support, as well as non-economic damages such as loss of companionship, loss of consortium (or intimacy), and other emotional injuries, wrongful death claims can provide the compensation needed to address these needs.
- You understand you need help – Although a legal endeavor may be the last thing you want following a tragedy, it is important to understand that working with an attorney can make the process much easier. This is especially true when families are still grieving from their loss, and have little to no understanding of the laws involved and legal work required of them. Additionally, attorneys can make the difference when insurance companies representing defendants work aggressively to protect their bottom lines and dispute, deny, or attempt to underpay claims. At-fault companies may seek quick and quiet settlements with families in order to keep newsworthy cases from harming their brands, and insurers may also seek settlements when they think they can get away with paying less than a family deserves. Working with an attorney not only provides you with guidance and support to navigate difficult cases, but also the representation to ensure you are not taken advantage of by corporations that care more about profits than doing “the right thing.”
If you have recently lost a loved one due to another’s negligent or wrongful acts, Biren Law Group is readily available to help. Backed by decades of collective experience and a genuine commitment to serving families facing the most difficult times imaginable, our legal team is prepared to make the difference for you. Learn more about wrongful death lawsuits, your rights, and how our firm can help by contacting us for a free and personalized consultation.
Get Started Today with a Free Consultation
To help ensure the most favorable outcome in a wrongful death claim, you need an accomplished plaintiff's law firm. Biren Law Group is prepared to dig deep to find liability if there is liability to be found. We pledge to take the time necessary to understand the human impact of the loss of your loved one on your family. Additionally, explaining wrongful death lawsuits without overburdening a grieving family is a large part of what we do well in an initial consultation.
Biren Law Group is unique in that we truly use a team approach on every case. Our lead attorney, Matthew B.F. Biren, will handle your case from start to finish, along with our team of associates and staff. If two eyes are better than one, multiple viewpoints are better yet. This approach results in a creative energy and thoroughness that leaves no stone unturned. This approach helps us maximize our clients' potential for obtaining full compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Call us at (310) 896-4345 to learn more about your options during a free consultation.
OVER HALF A BILLION WON FOR ACCIDENT VICTiMS
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$104,000,000 Premises Liability Judgment
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$12,000,000 Bad Faith Verdict
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$4,300,000 Wrongful Death Verdict
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$4,300,000 Car Accident Verdict
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$4,000,000 Workplace Injury Settlement
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$3,500,000 Motorcycle Accident Verdict
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