Wrongful Death Attorneys
Compassionate representation for families who have lost loved ones due to negligence
Call Now: (866) 222-2020Overview
At Keosian Law LLP, our wrongful death attorneys provide compassionate and dedicated representation for families who have lost loved ones due to the negligence, recklessness, or wrongful acts of others. We understand that no amount of compensation can replace your loved one, but pursuing a wrongful death claim can help provide financial security and a measure of justice for your family.
Los Angeles is one of the most dangerous metropolitan areas for traffic fatalities, with hundreds of lives lost each year on highways like the I-405, I-10, and I-110. Beyond traffic deaths, families in our community lose loved ones to medical malpractice, workplace accidents, defective products, and negligent property conditions.
Our experienced legal team handles wrongful death cases with the sensitivity and determination they deserve. We work diligently to hold responsible parties accountable and secure compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, loss of companionship, and other damages so your family can focus on healing.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents caused by negligent drivers
- Medical malpractice including surgical errors and misdiagnosis
- Workplace accidents in construction, manufacturing, and industrial settings
- Defective products including vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods
- Dangerous property conditions causing fatal slip and fall accidents
- Nursing home abuse and neglect of elderly residents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents involving negligent motorists
- Criminal acts where a third party's negligence enabled the violence
- Drowning incidents at pools, lakes, and beaches due to inadequate safety measures
- Aviation and public transportation accidents
Establishing Liability in Wrongful Death Cases
Proving liability in a wrongful death case requires demonstrating that another party's negligence or wrongful conduct directly caused your loved one's death. Our attorneys investigate every angle:
Negligence-Based Deaths
Most wrongful death cases are based on negligence—the failure to exercise reasonable care. This includes distracted or drunk drivers on Los Angeles freeways, doctors who deviate from the standard of care, and property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions. We gather police reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert analysis to prove negligence.
Strict Liability Deaths
When a defective product causes death, California's strict liability laws allow families to hold manufacturers accountable without proving negligence. This applies to defective vehicles, dangerous pharmaceuticals, faulty medical devices, and unsafe consumer products.
Multiple Liable Parties
Wrongful death cases often involve multiple defendants. For example, a fatal truck accident may involve the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, and cargo loader. Identifying all liable parties maximizes the available compensation for your family.
Wrongful death cases in Los Angeles are filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Our attorneys are experienced litigators in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and courthouses throughout LA County.
What Compensation Covers
California wrongful death damages are designed to compensate surviving family members for their losses. Available damages include:
- Lost Financial Support: The income, benefits, and financial contributions the deceased would have provided over their expected lifetime.
- Loss of Household Services: The economic value of childcare, home maintenance, cooking, and other services the deceased provided.
- Funeral & Burial Expenses: All costs associated with the funeral, burial, or cremation of your loved one.
- Loss of Companionship: Compensation for the loss of love, affection, moral support, guidance, and companionship.
- Loss of Parental Guidance: For minor children, the loss of training, education, and nurturing from the deceased parent.
- Pre-Death Pain and Suffering: Through a survival action, compensation for the pain and suffering your loved one endured before death.
- Punitive Damages: In cases involving egregious conduct such as drunk driving, punitive damages may be available to punish the wrongdoer.
The Legal Process for Wrongful Death Claims
Pursuing a wrongful death claim while grieving is overwhelming. Keosian Law handles every aspect of the legal process so you can focus on your family:
- Free Compassionate Consultation: We meet with your family to understand what happened, explain your legal rights, and determine who can file a claim under California law.
- Thorough Investigation: We gather all available evidence—accident reports, medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert analyses—to build the strongest possible case.
- Damage Calculation: Working with economists and vocational experts, we calculate the full financial impact of your loss, including lifetime income projections and household service values.
- Insurance Negotiations: We handle all communications with insurance companies and at-fault parties, presenting a comprehensive demand for fair compensation.
- Litigation: If insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement, we file suit and aggressively litigate your case in Los Angeles Superior Court.
- Trial: Our trial attorneys are prepared to present your family's case to a jury, holding the responsible parties fully accountable.
Why Choose Keosian Law for Wrongful Death
Choosing a wrongful death attorney is one of the most important decisions your family will make. Here is why Los Angeles families trust Keosian Law:
- Compassionate Approach: We treat every family with the dignity and sensitivity this devastating time demands. You are never treated as a case number.
- Proven Results: We have recovered substantial verdicts and settlements for wrongful death families across Los Angeles County.
- No Fees or Costs Unless We Recover: No attorney fees or costs unless we recover for you.
- Experienced Litigators: Insurance companies know we take cases to trial. This reputation strengthens every negotiation.
- Comprehensive Support: Beyond legal representation, we help connect families with grief counseling and support resources.
Your family deserves justice. Contact Keosian Law today for a free consultation and let us help you hold the responsible parties accountable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our legal services and processes.
Under California law, the following individuals can file a wrongful death claim:- The surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Surviving children
- If none of the above, anyone entitled to the property under intestate succession (such as parents, siblings)
- Putative spouse, children of putative spouse, or stepchildren who were financially dependent on the deceased
Our attorneys can help determine who has standing to bring a claim in your specific situation. Wrongful death damages in California include the financial support the deceased would have provided, loss of gifts and benefits, funeral and burial expenses, the value of household services, loss of love, companionship, comfort, and moral support, loss of guidance and training for minor children, and in some cases, the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering. These damages can be substantial, particularly when the deceased was a primary earner or parent. In California, you generally have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If the death was caused by a government entity or employee, you must file an administrative claim within six months. There are limited exceptions that may extend or shorten these deadlines. Given the emotional difficulty of this time, we encourage families to consult with an attorney early to ensure deadlines are met. Wrongful death claims can arise from any death caused by another party's negligence or wrongful conduct, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, defective products, dangerous property conditions, nursing home abuse or neglect, criminal acts (separate from criminal prosecution), and plane crashes or transportation accidents. If someone's negligence caused your loved one's death, a wrongful death claim may be possible. A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their losses resulting from the death. A survival action is a separate claim on behalf of the deceased person's estate for damages the deceased could have claimed had they lived, such as medical expenses before death and pain and suffering experienced before death. Both claims can often be pursued together, and our attorneys can advise on the best approach for your situation. Yes. No attorney fees or costs unless we recover for you. We also advance all litigation costs. This allows families to access experienced legal representation during a difficult time without worrying about upfront expenses.
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Sherman Oaks, CA
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