Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney

A wrongful death is considered the loss of life that was caused by someone else’s negligence or misconduct. Losing a loved one results in more than just the emotional impact; families must also contend with loss of income, loss of support, and costs related to the death. If you are considering legal action, the experienced Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can help.

Why Choose Panish | Shea | Ravipudi for Your Los Angeles Wrongful Death Claim?

If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, having the right legal support can make a critical difference. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have obtained record-setting settlements and jury verdicts for fatal accidents.

• We succeed in over 99% of the cases we take. Our results have surpassed $2 billion for past clients throughout California.
• We are skilled negotiators who understand how to deal with insurance companies, even when the insurer is denying accountability.
• We are here to help you and your family through this difficult time. We can work closely with you throughout the entire process, not just while filing your claim.
• We accept wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only charge our clients if we recover financial compensation for them.

What Makes The Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyers At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP Great?

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has extensive experience with the often complicated lawsuits that arise after an injury or death caused by another’s negligence or misconduct. Our attorneys have been repeatedly recognized for excellence by other trial attorneys, legal organizations, and publications nationwide. The firm has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® as a “Tier 1” Firm in the areas of Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation and Plaintiffs Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – the highest ranking a firm can receive – and is recognized as being among the top Plaintiff’s law firms in the country by the National Law Journal.

Here’s What Our Clients Are Saying

Moratya v. City of Bakersfield

★★★★★

“When we lost our Dad from substantial injuries to negligence we were devastated. Even though we knew that the Defendants accepted fault, it was still a fight like David and Goliath with us going against the City of Bakersfield at trial. Yet we had the strength and courage with Brian Panish and Deborah Chang on our side. They fought this battle with professionalism, dedication, and integrity. Through perseverance and prayer, Goliath went down and we won the victory with one of the highest wrongful death verdicts in Kern County… On behalf of the Morataya family, words cannot explain the gratitude. Thank you to the most warmest staff a legal firm can have. You were all very welcoming from the beginning to the end. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again for believing in us.” – Erika and Cindy Morataya

Cuthbertson v. LACMTA

★★★★★

Navigate This Page:

• Do I Have a Wrongful Death Case?
• How Much Does a Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?
• California Wrongful Death Laws
• What Are the Most Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases?
• Wrongful Death Frequently Asked Questions
• Wrongful Death Verdicts & Settlements

How Do I Know If I Have A Los Angeles Wrongful Death Case?

To file a wrongful death claim in California, the death must result from someone else’s negligence or wrongful act, and the claim must be filed within two years of the loved one’s passing.

Ultimately, the death of the victim must meet the state’s definition of wrongful death. California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 defines wrongful death as a death from the wrongful act or neglect of another person.

Furthermore, you must be within your statute of limitations. In most cases, you have two years from the day your loved one died to bring a wrongful death claim.

How Much Does a  Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we charge on a contingency-fee basis. This means you don’t pay unless we win. We understand that people who come to us for help are going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Our firm is also proud to offer:

• Free initial consultations
• No upfront costs to retain our services
• Zero attorney’s fees if we do not win
• Pre-approved fee arrangement before we start your case
• Fees are deducted directly from your settlement or verdict if we win
• No out-of-pocket legal fees or court costs, ever
• No hidden costs or surprise service fees

We pride ourselves on providing honest, dependable, and affordable legal representation in Los Angeles and are prepared to answer your questions regarding potential costs. A wrongful death suit that requires a trial, for example, may have higher legal fees. We will never leave you in the dark about how much we charge and when.

What Are the Most Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases?

Any circumstance in which one or more parties contribute to the death of someone else could be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit in California. At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we have helped hundreds of clients claim damages after tragic and unexpected accidents resulting in the death of a loved one. In our experience, certain types of accidents result in wrongful death claims in LA more often than others.

Car Accidents

Over the past decade, more than 3,600 Californians died in car accidents each year. Many of these accidents are caused by wrongful acts committed by other drivers. Speak to a Los Angeles car accident attorney for more information today.

Criminal Activity

When the criminal acts of another individual kill a person, a civil lawsuit can follow in addition to criminal charges. After the criminal proceedings are over, a victim’s family can and should bring a wrongful death action to recover damages for their losses. However, these cases are only successful against certain types of defendants.

Medical Malpractice

Wrongful death cases stemming from medical malpractice are among the most devastating to handle. These cases involve the tragic loss of a patient who placed immense trust in their doctors and healthcare providers.

Workplace Accidents

A grave injustice occurs when a company fails to protect its employees from hazardous conditions on the job. In workplaces that use dangerous equipment and heavy machinery, companies are required to follow certain regulations for worker safety to prevent workplace accidents. 

Premises Accidents

If a person dies from an injury that happened on property owned by another person or entity, then they may be liable for damages in a wrongful death case.

The most common example of a Los Angeles premises liability case is a slip-and-fall, but any type of injury can give rise to a premises liability claim.

Other Causes Of Wrongful Death:

• Defective products
• Truck accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Automotive defects
• Pedestrian accidents
• And more

No matter the fatal activity or accident that caused your loved one’s death, we can help. Our attorneys will investigate your case for signs of wrongdoing and build a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties. Our Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys have experience going up against drivers, corporations, truck companies, product manufacturers, property owners, and others in pursuit of justice.

How to Prove a Wrongful Death Case in California

Winning a wrongful death suit in California requires a plaintiff to prove that an underlying wrongful act occurred, which caused the victim’s death, either by negligence, recklessness, or an intentional wrongful act. After a surviving family member proves the underlying wrongful act, he or she is entitled to damages in their wrongful death case.

Negligence

A vast majority of personal injury actions – wrongful death and otherwise – arise from negligent acts. Negligence is conduct that deviates from the ordinary care that reasonable people would take. In other words, a person commits negligence when they act unreasonably.

Recklessness

Recklessness is an act or omission more severe than negligence – when a person acts with deliberate indifference or disregard to an ordinary standard of care, but doesn’t necessarily intend to injure another person. Cases arising from reckless conduct are often easier to prove than cases stemming from negligence.

Wrongful Death Verdicts & Settlements

Our firm has extensive experience in advocating for California families who have lost loved ones due to negligence or recklessness. While our past experience cannot guarantee your future success, a few examples of cases we’ve won include the following:

• DOES v National Company: The firm secured a settlement of $50,000,000 in a case involving an explosion.
• DOES v. Trucking Company: The firm secured a settlement of $39,500,000 in a case involving a truck accident.
• Allen et al v. City of Beverly Hills: Brian Panish and Tom Schultz obtained a $32.5 million settlement for two clients who were catastrophically injured and two clients whose father was killed in two car accidents on Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

Wrongful Death Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Los Angeles?

In most cases, you have a two-year window from the day your loved one passed away to initiate a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles. Missing this deadline could potentially limit a lawyer’s ability to assist you.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?

Under California law, certain individuals have the legal entitlement to file a wrongful death lawsuit which includes a spouse, domestic partner, children, grandparents, siblings, stepchildren, and other special circumstances.

What Is the Difference Between a Wrongful Death Claim and a Survival Claim?

A wrongful death claim serves to compensate surviving loved ones for their damages. A survival action provides compensation to the decedent’s estate for his or her specific losses. Surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim, while only a representative of the estate may file a survival action.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Under California law, a wrongful death claim can only be filed by a victim’s surviving spouse. If the victim was unmarried, then their legal heir is usually a child, parent, or sibling. California’s restrictions on the filing of wrongful death claims exist to ensure that the right to recover compensation is exclusively reserved for the victim’s most immediate family members.

What Damages Can I Recover From a Wrongful Death Case?

A wrongful death lawsuit lets family members seek compensation for losses caused by a loved one’s death, including medical and funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship or household support. All

How Long Do I Have To File a Wrongful Death Claim?

In California, a wrongful death case must be filed within two years of the victim’s death, and the state’s courts strictly adhere to this rule. While exceptions are sometimes made for other types of injury claims, wrongful death claims are subject to rare exceptions.

Request a Free Consultation With Our Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyers

If you are grieving the passing of a loved one, we understand that you are going through the worst time of your life. While nothing can truly make up for the death of a family member, the law provides that you can seek compensation for the losses you have suffered due to another person’s wrongful act or neglect. In some ways, a wrongful death lawsuit is an act of justice by holding bad actors accountable for causing another person’s untimely demise.

The dedicated team at Panish | Shea| Ravipudi LLP is ready to serve as a strength by your side during this difficult time and is proud to offer free consultations to prospective clients. Contact our office today to set up an appointment with a member of our team.

Serving These Areas Around Los Angeles, CA and More

Downtown Los Angeles | Hollywood | West Hollywood | Beverly Hills | Santa Monica | Venice | Malibu | Pasadena | Long Beach | Glendale | Burbank | Culver City | Westwood | Silver Lake | Echo Park | Koreatown | San Pedro | West Los Angeles | Boyle Heights | Eagle Rock | Sherman Oaks | North Hollywood | Encino | Studio City | Bel Air | Pacific Palisades | West Los Angeles | Highland Park | Manhattan Beach

We also handle cases of wrongful death in Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside, and across California.