Losing a loved one is devastating. When that loss comes from someone else's negligence, the pain is compounded by anger, confusion, and the weight of sudden financial burdens. If your family member died because of another person's or company's carelessness in Glendale, you may be entitled to compensation under California law.
At The Injury Law Firm LLP, we understand that no amount of money can replace the person you lost. What we can do is hold the responsible parties accountable, fight for the financial security your family needs, and give you space to grieve while we handle the legal battle. Call us now at (800) 597-5596 for a FREE, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Our Glendale wrongful death attorneys have represented families throughout Los Angeles County who lost loved ones in car crashes on Brand Boulevard, medical errors at local hospitals, workplace accidents, elder abuse in care facilities, and other preventable tragedies. We know the California wrongful death statutes inside and out, and we know how to investigate these cases thoroughly, from accident reconstruction to medical record analysis to financial audits that capture the full scope of your loss.
We also know this is the hardest time in your life. When you work with us, you get direct attorney communication, not a paralegal shuffle. We listen. We answer your questions in plain English. We keep you informed at every step. And we fight to recover maximum compensation so your family has financial stability while you heal.
If you were affected by a wrongful death in Glendale, contact us today. We'll meet you at our Glendale office at 308 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204, or come to you if that's easier. Your first consultation is always FREE, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60 generally permits surviving spouses or domestic partners, children, qualifying financial dependents, and—in some circumstances—parents to bring a wrongful death claim. Only one lawsuit is permitted per death, so eligible family members usually proceed together. We identify each claimant, coordinate the family’s interests, and pursue every available claim regardless of immigration status.
A wrongful death occurs when someone dies due to the wrongful act or neglect of another person or entity. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, wrongful death claims arise when the deceased person would have had a valid personal injury claim if they had survived.
California wrongful death law covers three broad categories of fault:
Negligence. The most common basis. If someone failed to exercise reasonable care and that failure caused your loved one's death, you may have a claim. Examples include distracted driving, failure to maintain safe premises, medical errors, and inadequate workplace safety measures.
Intentional Acts. If someone intentionally harmed your loved one and that harm caused death, you can pursue a wrongful death claim in civil court even if criminal charges are pending. Assault, battery, and other violent acts fall into this category.
Strict Liability. In some cases, fault is automatic regardless of intent or negligence. Defective products that cause death, for instance, make the manufacturer strictly liable. Certain dangerous activities also carry strict liability if they result in death.
Wrongful death claims can arise from nearly any type of fatal incident. Motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian accidents, medical malpractice, construction site accidents, nursing home neglect, dangerous property conditions, and defective products all frequently result in wrongful death litigation in Glendale.
California law restricts who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. You cannot file simply because you were close to the deceased or because you are grieving. The statute establishes a strict hierarchy:
First Priority: Surviving Spouse or Domestic Partner and Children. If your spouse, registered domestic partner, or parent died, you have standing to file. All eligible family members in this tier typically file together as co-plaintiffs, though legally each can file independently.
Second Priority: If No Spouse or Children, Then Other Issue of the Deceased. "Issue" means descendants, grandchildren if there are no living children.
Third Priority: If No Issue, Then the Parents. If the deceased had no spouse, partner, or descendants, the parents may file.
Fourth Priority: Other Dependents. If the deceased financially supported someone who does not fit the above categories (a sibling they supported, for example, or a putative spouse), that person may be able to file if they can prove financial dependence. California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60(b) allows "any person" who was dependent on the deceased to bring a claim, but courts scrutinize these claims closely.
Important distinction: The wrongful death claim is separate from the estate's survival action. The personal representative of the deceased's estate can file a survival action to recover damages the deceased themselves suffered before death, such as pre-death pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost earnings up to the moment of death. Those damages go to the estate and are distributed according to the will or intestacy law. The wrongful death claim, by contrast, compensates the family members for their own losses, the financial and emotional support they lost when their loved one died.
If you are unsure whether you have standing to file, call us. We'll review your relationship to the deceased, explain your legal options, and guide you through the process at no upfront cost.
California wrongful death law allows surviving family members to recover two broad categories of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages compensate for financial losses:
Medical Expenses. If your loved one received emergency treatment, hospitalization, or other medical care before death, you can recover those costs.
Funeral and Burial Costs. California allows full recovery of reasonable funeral, burial, or cremation expenses.
Loss of Financial Support. If the deceased provided income to the household, you can recover the value of that lost support for the rest of their expected working life. This is often the largest component in cases involving working adults.
Loss of Benefits. Health insurance, retirement contributions, pension benefits, and other employment benefits the deceased would have provided.
Loss of Household Services. If the deceased contributed household labor, childcare, home maintenance, or other non-income services, you can recover the cost to replace those services.
Non-Economic Damages compensate for intangible losses:
Loss of Companionship and Affection. The emotional support, love, and companionship you lost.
Loss of Guidance and Counsel. Particularly significant when a parent dies and minor children lose years of guidance.
Loss of Consortium. The intimate relationship between spouses.
Unlike some states, California does not cap non-economic damages in wrongful death cases (except in medical malpractice cases, where the MICRA cap applies). Juries are instructed to award what is "just" based on the evidence.
Punitive Damages are rare but possible if the defendant's conduct was especially reckless or malicious. Punitive damages punish the defendant and deter similar conduct. They are awarded in the survival action, not the wrongful death claim itself, and go to the estate. Our attorneys investigate whether punitive damages are warranted in every case.
We work with economists, life-care planners, and vocational experts to calculate the full value of your claim. We don't settle for the first offer. We fight to recover maximum compensation for everything your family lost.
Wrongful death claims arise from a wide range of incidents in Glendale. Based on our experience representing families in Los Angeles County, these are the most common causes:
Motor Vehicle Accidents. Car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle collisions, and pedestrian accidents are the leading cause of wrongful death in California. Glendale's busy corridors like Brand Boulevard, Glendale Avenue, and Colorado Street see regular serious collisions. Distracted driving, speeding, DUI, and aggressive driving all contribute to fatal crashes. If your loved one died in a traffic accident, we investigate the crash scene, obtain police reports and surveillance footage, consult accident reconstruction experts, and identify all liable parties, from negligent drivers to vehicle manufacturers to government entities responsible for road maintenance.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents. Glendale's walkable downtown and mixed-use neighborhoods put pedestrians and cyclists in close proximity to vehicle traffic. Crosswalk accidents, right-turn collisions, and dooring incidents can all be fatal. California law strongly protects pedestrians and cyclists. If a driver struck and killed your loved one, we hold them accountable.
Medical Malpractice. Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, anesthesia errors, birth injuries, and hospital-acquired infections can all cause death. Medical malpractice wrongful death cases are complex and require expert testimony. We work with physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals who review records, identify where the standard of care was breached, and testify that the breach caused death. California's MICRA law caps non-economic damages at $250,000 in medical malpractice cases, but we maximize economic damages and fight for every dollar your family is owed.
Workplace Accidents. Construction site falls, industrial equipment malfunctions, warehouse accidents, and exposure to toxic substances can kill workers. If your loved one died on the job, you may have both a workers' compensation death benefit claim and a wrongful death lawsuit against third parties (equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, property owners). We coordinate both claims to maximize your recovery.
Premises Liability. Dangerous property conditions, negligent security, swimming pool drownings, and building code violations can all lead to wrongful death. Property owners in Glendale have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. If your loved one died because a property owner neglected that duty, we hold them responsible.
Elder Abuse and Neglect. Nursing home neglect, bedsores leading to sepsis, medication errors, dehydration, falls from lack of supervision, and physical abuse can kill vulnerable seniors. California has strong elder abuse statutes that allow enhanced damages. We investigate care facilities thoroughly, review staffing records and incident reports, and bring in medical experts who testify about the neglect that caused death.
No matter how your loved one died, if negligence played a role, call us. We'll investigate, identify every liable party, and fight for justice.
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is legally complex. While you're grieving, we handle the legal battle step by step:
Step 1: FREE Consultation and Case Investigation. Call us at (800) 597-5596. We'll meet with you, listen to what happened, review any records or evidence you have, and explain your legal options. If we take your case, we investigate immediately. We obtain police reports, medical records, employment records, and witness statements. We visit the accident scene. We consult experts. We build a complete picture of how and why your loved one died and who is liable.
Step 2: Identifying All Liable Parties. Wrongful death cases often involve multiple defendants. A fatal car crash might involve a negligent driver, the bar that overserved them, and a vehicle manufacturer whose defective brakes contributed to the collision. A workplace death might involve the employer, a subcontractor, and an equipment manufacturer. We identify every party whose negligence contributed to the death so we can pursue maximum compensation from every available source.
Step 3: Filing the Wrongful Death Claim. In California, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this statute of limitations deadline means losing your right to compensation forever. We file within the deadline and comply with all procedural requirements.
Step 4: Discovery. Both sides exchange evidence. We depose witnesses, demand documents from defendants, and build the case for trial. This phase can take months or over a year in complex cases. We keep you informed and never make decisions without your input.
Step 5: Negotiation and Settlement. Most wrongful death cases settle before trial. We negotiate aggressively with defendants and their insurers, using the evidence we've gathered to demand full compensation. We never recommend a settlement unless it's fair. If the insurance company won't offer what your family deserves, we prepare for trial.
Step 6: Trial if Necessary. We are trial attorneys. If we can't reach a fair settlement, we take your case to a Los Angeles County jury. We present the evidence, call expert witnesses, cross-examine defense witnesses, and fight to show that your loved one's death was preventable and the defendant is responsible.
Throughout the process, we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We advance all case costs, from filing fees to expert fees. You pay nothing unless we win your case, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery.
We Focus on Personal Injury and Wrongful Death. We don't dabble in personal injury, that's all we do. Our attorneys have handled wrongful death cases arising from every type of fatal incident, and we have the experience and resources to take on insurance companies, corporations, and government entities.
We Treat You With Compassion and Respect. You're not a case number. At our firm, we value direct client-attorney communication. We listen to your story, answer your questions, and keep you informed at every stage. We understand you're grieving, and we handle the legal complexities so you can focus on your family.
We Investigate Thoroughly. Wrongful death cases require deep investigation. We work with accident reconstructionists, medical experts, economists, vocational specialists, and other professionals who provide the evidence needed to prove liability and damages. We leave no stone unturned.
We Fight for Maximum Compensation. Insurance companies often lowball wrongful death claims, hoping grieving families will settle quickly. We don't. We calculate the full value of your loss, economic and non-economic, and we demand every dollar your family is owed. If the insurer won't pay, we go to trial.
No Upfront Cost, No Risk. You pay nothing unless we win. If we don't recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing. That's our promise.
If you lost a loved one in Glendale due to negligence, call The Injury Law Firm LLP at (800) 597-5596. We're here to fight for your family.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in California?
California law gives you two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to compensation. There are rare exceptions. If the death resulted from a government entity's negligence, you must file an administrative claim within six months. If the death was caused by medical malpractice and you didn't discover it immediately, the deadline can be more complex. Don't wait. Call us now so we can protect your rights and file within the statute of limitations.
Can I sue if my loved one was partially at fault?
Yes. California follows pure comparative negligence. Even if your loved one was partially at fault, you can still recover damages. Your recovery is reduced by your loved one's percentage of fault, but you don't lose your claim entirely. For example, if the jury awards $1 million and finds your loved one was 20% at fault, you would recover $800,000. The defendant's insurer will try to blame the victim to reduce what they pay. We investigate thoroughly to show the true cause of death and minimize any comparative fault arguments.
What if there are multiple family members, how are damages divided?
If multiple family members have standing to file (for instance, a surviving spouse and adult children), they typically file together. The damages are divided based on each person's relationship to the deceased and their individual losses. A surviving spouse who lost financial support and companionship may recover more than an adult child who was financially independent, but every eligible family member's loss is evaluated individually. The jury or settlement allocates damages among the plaintiffs. If you're concerned about how damages will be divided in your family, call us. We explain the process and ensure everyone's interests are protected.
How much does a wrongful death lawyer cost?
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, no retainer, no hourly fees. We advance all costs of investigating and litigating your case. If we recover compensation for you, our fee is a percentage of that recovery. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. This contingency fee structure allows families to afford top-quality legal representation without financial risk. We'll explain our fee agreement clearly during your FREE consultation.
If your loved one died because of negligence in Glendale, you deserve answers and justice. Call The Injury Law Firm LLP at (800) 597-5596 now for a FREE, confidential consultation. We'll listen to your story, explain your legal rights, and fight to recover maximum compensation for your family.
Visit our Glendale office at 308 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204, or we'll come to you. Your consultation is FREE, and you pay nothing unless we win. Your injury, our fight.
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