At Ourfalian & Ourfalian, our California wrongful death attorneys are compassionate, reliable advocates for justices. Grieving families deserve personalized legal guidance and support. If your family member was killed due to the negligence of another party, we are here to help your family get justice, accountability, and financial support. To set up a free, confidential consultation with a California wrongful death lawyer, please do not hesitate to contact our Glendale law office today.

We Handle All Types of Wrongful Death Claims in California

A wrongful death claim is a type of civil legal action brought against a party that allegedly bears culpability for the accident/incident that resulted in someone passing away. These are among the most sensitive and challenging types of legal cases.

At Ourfalian & Ourfalian, our Glendale wrongful death lawyers have the professional skills and experience to represent families in the full spectrum of wrongful death cases. You and your family may have a wrongful death claim if your loved one was killed in any of the following types of incidents:

• Motor vehicle collision
• Pedestrian accident
• Motorcycle crash
• Commercial trucking accident
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home abuse or neglect
• A slip and fall (premises liability)
• Criminal attack at a business (premises liability)
• A dangerous and defective product

An Overview of California’s Wrongful Death Laws

Wrongful death claims fall under the California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. If your close loved one was killed in an avoidable accident, it is crucial that you understand your rights and responsibilities under this section of the California statutes. Here are three key things to know about our state’s wrongful death laws:

A Strict Two-Year Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death

A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed in a timely manner. If not, a court can simply refuse to hear the merits of the case. There is a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in California. Any lawsuit should be initiated within two years of your loved one’s passing.

Liability is Based on Fault (Usually Negligence)

Wrongful death claims are based on fault—usually, negligence, though there are some limited exceptions, such as for product liability claims which are governed by California’s strict liability standard. In effect, you will need to provide comprehensive, well-prepared evidence that demonstrates that your loved one’s fatal accident happened because of the defendant’s careless, reckless, or otherwise wrongful conduct.

Only Certain Parties Have the Right to File Claim

Unfortunately, there are some limitations to wrongful death claims in California. Not everyone who was close to the victim has a right to take legal action. In general, claims are restricted to immediate family members. Generally, a wrongful death lawsuit should be initiated by a surviving spouse, surviving child, or surviving parent.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered in A Wrongful Death Claim?

Through a wrongful death lawsuit, surviving family members of the victim have the right to seek financial compensation for their damages. In California, both economic and non-economic damages can be sought through a wrongful death action. You may be eligible to recover for:

Economic Damages

The term economic damages are used to cover the actual financial losses that a claimant suffered as a consequence of their family member’s death. Along with other losses, economic damages in a wrongful death claim include:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Out-of-pocket medical bills
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of insurance coverage

Non-Economic Damages

Of course, the non-economic (intangible) damages associated with a wrongful death invariably outweigh the direct economic losses. In California, non-economic damages in a wrongful death claim can include:

• Loss of love
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of moral support
• Loss of sexual relations
• Loss of parental guidance

You May Also Be Eligible to File a Survival Action Claim

As noted previously, a wrongful death claim is a type of civil legal action that is designed to provide qualifying surviving family members with a path to recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. The victim (deceased person) may have also suffered recoverable damages in the accident—especially if they survived the initial accident only to pass away a few days, weeks, or months later.

In California, there is a separate type of legal claim known as a survival action. With a survival action claim, a personal representative for the estate of the deceased can seek remedy for the deceased’s damages, such as any money they paid out of their pocket for medical, the wages the lost between the date of the accident and the date of their death, and the pain and suffering they endured after their accident but prior to their passing.

Notably, wrongful death claims and survival action claims are not “either/or” propositions in California. Put another way, a family can (and often should) pursue both types of legal claims at the same time. If you have any specific questions or concerns about survival action claims in California, please do not hesitate to contact our Glendale wrongful death attorney for help.

How Our California Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help

There is truly nothing more difficult than losing a family member in an accident—especially when that accident was caused by carelessness, recklessness, or other misconduct. At Ourfalian & Ourfalian, we help families navigate through the complexities of the claims process. When you reach out to our Glendale law office, you will have an opportunity to consult with a California wrongful death attorney who can:

• Listen to your family’s story and answer your legal questions.
• Investigate the accident—securing the evidence needed to prove liability.
• Represent you and your family in any wrongful death settlement talks.
• Take your wrongful death claim as far as needed to get justice.

Contact Our Southern California Wrongful Death Lawyers

At Ourfalian & Ourfalian, our California wrongful death attorneys have the professional skills, legal experience, and passion for justice that you and your family can trust. If your loved one was killed in an accident, we are here to handle your legal case so that you can focus on your family. Contact us today at (818) 550 – 7777 for your free, completely private initial consultation. With a legal office in Glendale, we represent grieving families in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California.