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Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer Larry H. Parker

Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer

How can a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer help after a death in the family?

A personal injury lawyer can help families review who may bring a Los Angeles wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. In Los Angeles, the answer may depend on the surviving family members, Medical Examiner records, and whether a public entity deadline applies.

Losing someone because of another person’s negligence can leave a family with legal questions at the worst possible time, and in Los Angeles, it can be hard to know which call or document matters first. 

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker represents families in Los Angeles and throughout California after fatal accidents and other wrongful death incidents. Our firm can review what happened, explain what legal options may be available, and pursue a claim based on the facts of the case.

  • Our legal team has $2.2 billion+ reported in verdicts and settlements obtained for clients 
  • 50 years of fighting for 100,000+ accident victims in LA, proven by real client reviews
  • 24/7 availability with a free initial consultation
  • Contingency fee arrangements may be available. Attorney’s fees may depend on the outcome of the case. All fee terms and any applicable costs are explained in the written representation agreement before representation begins.

Past results depend on the specific facts of each case and do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.

Why choose The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker for a Los Angeles wrongful death claim?

Our team understands how difficult it can be to pursue legal action while grieving. During this challenging time, we are here to provide guidance, support, and experienced legal representation as your family considers its options. 

We represent California families after serious and fatal injuries. We believe you deserve justice, and that your loved one deserves to be remembered, and we take action to achieve this. 

Wrongful death cases need careful handling because the claim is not only about the fatal incident. It may also involve who has the right to bring the claim, what losses California law recognizes, whether more than one claim exists, and whether a shorter deadline applies.

Our legal team can help by:

  • Putting your family first by providing compassionate guidance, legal support, and advocacy to protect your rights
  • Reviewing who may be legally eligible to bring the claim
  • Identifying the person, company, insurer, or public entity that may be responsible
  • Explaining whether more than one legal claim may exist
  • Responding to insurance companies and defense arguments
  • Reviewing financial and non-financial losses recognized under California law
  • Preparing the claim for litigation when necessary

A wrongful death claim cannot undo the loss. It can help the family ask legal questions about responsibility, support, and the losses California law allows.

Request a free consultation with The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker.

 

What should a family do after a wrongful death in Los Angeles?

After a wrongful death in Los Angeles, a family should focus on preserving important information, keeping records related to the incident, and avoiding decisions that could affect their legal rights before the circumstances have been fully reviewed. While every situation is different, the following steps may help protect important evidence and provide a clearer understanding of what happened.

  • Contact authorities: If you were present at the scene, call 911 right away. Police and emergency responders can document the incident and prepare official reports that may be important later.
  • Preserve evidence: If possible, gather information related to the incident. This may include photographs of the scene, contact details for witnesses, and any documents connected to the accident. 

The family’s next concerns after these immediate steps at the scene usually involve the funeral arrangements, communication with relatives, and understanding what happened. Legal questions can be addressed step by step. The family does not need to know the full legal answer before speaking with a lawyer, but it can be helpful to take the following next steps:

  • Keep basic records in one place. This may include hospital paperwork, police information, Medical Examiner information, insurance letters, employer communications, and funeral expense records.
  • Write down who contacts the family. Save the names of insurance adjusters, businesses, agencies, employers, property owners, or investigators who reach out.
  • Obtain the death certificate: This document is often required for legal matters, insurance claims, and financial accounts connected to your loved one’s estate. 
  • Notify insurance companies: Some insurance policies require timely reporting of an incident. However, it may be helpful to understand your options before providing detailed statements. 
  • Avoid signing quick releases. An early settlement or release may affect the rights of other family members or claims that have not been fully reviewed.
  • Ask whether a public entity may be involved. A city vehicle, county facility, public road condition, public bus, public hospital, or public property issue may trigger a shorter claim deadline.
  • Do not assume the police report or Medical Examiner report answers every civil question. Those records may help, but a civil wrongful death claim has its own legal issues.
  • Speak with a lawyer if the death may have been caused by negligence. This can include a crash, unsafe property, defective product, elder neglect, dangerous road condition, or another preventable incident.

What types of wrongful death cases does Larry H. Parker handle in Los Angeles?

Our firm handles wrongful death claims involving many types of fatal incidents.

  • Fatal car accidents: These may involve rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, freeway crashes, hit-and-runs, uninsured drivers, or drunk drivers.
  • Fatal truck accidents: These may involve big rigs, port trucks, delivery trucks, cargo issues, underride crashes, or commercial insurance disputes.
  • Fatal motorcycle accidents: These may involve lane changes, left-turn crashes, lane splitting, freeway crashes, or drivers who say they did not see the rider.
  • Fatal pedestrian accidents: These may involve crosswalks, intersections, parking lots, school zones, or unsafe turns.
  • Fatal bicycle accidents: These may involve bike lanes, dooring incidents, unsafe turns, distracted drivers, or hit-and-run crashes.
  • Fatal Uber and Lyft accidents: These may involve passengers, rideshare drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, app status, or multiple insurance policies.
  • Unsafe property deaths: These may involve falls, drowning, fires, negligent security, unsafe stairs, or other dangerous property conditions.
  • Defective product deaths: These may involve unsafe vehicles, defective equipment, dangerous consumer products, or failed safety devices.
  • Elder abuse and neglect deaths: These may involve care facilities, neglect, falls, pressure injuries, dehydration, medication issues, or failure to monitor.
  • Work-related fatal incidents: These may involve construction sites, vehicles, equipment, contractors, or third parties outside the workers’ compensation system.

Who may be liable in a Los Angeles wrongful death claim?

Liability in a wrongful death case may fall on the individuals or entities whose negligence or wrongful actions caused the fatal incident. Determining responsibility often requires reviewing the circumstances of the accident and identifying all parties who may have contributed to the loss. Potentially liable parties may include:

Potentially liable parties may include:

  • Individuals: A person whose negligent or reckless actions caused the fatal incident. Examples may include a driver responsible for a car accident or a property owner who failed to maintain safe conditions.
  • Professionals: Certain professionals may be liable if their failure to meet the appropriate standard of care results in a person’s death. This may include healthcare providers in cases involving medical malpractice.
  • Employers or Corporations: Companies may be held responsible when an employee causes a fatal accident while performing work duties. Businesses may also face liability if unsafe policies, inadequate training, or unsafe working conditions contributed to the incident.
  • Manufacturers: If a defective product causes a fatal injury, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers may be held liable under product liability laws.
  • Government Agencies: Public entities may be responsible if dangerous road conditions, poor maintenance, or other hazards under government control contributed to the fatal accident.

What must be proven in a wrongful death claim?

A wrongful death claim generally requires showing that the death was caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect. The claim usually needs to show:

  • Duty of Care: Someone had a duty to use reasonable care
  • Breach of Duty: That person or entity failed to use reasonable care
  • Causation: The failure caused or contributed to the death
  • Damages: Eligible family members suffered losses because of the death

For example, a driver fails to yield at a Los Angeles crosswalk (breach of duty of care) and hits and kills a pedestrian, causing his death. The pedestrian’s family can then file a claim for damages against the driver.

Can a family bring a claim if the person who died was partly at fault?

Yes, depending on the facts. California follows comparative fault principles. This means a wrongful death claim may still be possible even if the person who died is claimed to have been partly responsible.

Any recovery may be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned. This issue may come up in traffic crashes, pedestrian cases, motorcycle crashes, unsafe property cases, and other fatal incidents. An insurer may blame the person who died. That does not automatically end the claim.

What damages may be available after a Los Angeles wrongful death claim?

Wrongful death claims allow the surviving family members to seek compensation for losses resulting from the death of their loved one. These damages are generally divided into economic damages and non-economic damages, depending on the type of loss experienced by the family.

The first type of damages, economic damages, address financial losses caused by the death. These may include:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
  • Loss of gifts or benefits the family expected to receive
  • The value of household services the person would have provided
  • Other financial losses recognized under California law

The second type of damages, non-economic damages, address the personal and emotional impact of losing a loved one. These may include:

  • Loss of companionship and care 
  • Loss of love, guidance, and support, 
  • Loss of consortium for a surviving spouse or domestic partner

There is a third type of damages that may be available under California Civil Code § 3294, called punitive damages, yet California generally does not allow punitive damages in a wrongful death claim itself. 

However, in some situations, punitive damages may be pursued through a separate survival action, which focuses on damages the deceased person could have recovered if they had survived the incident.

Although these legal categories are technical, they ultimately reflect the financial support, household contributions, guidance, companionship, and other losses that surviving family members experience after a wrongful death.

How long does a family have to file a personal injury claim in California?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, family members who wish to file a lawsuit for death caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect are generally given two years from the date of the person’s death to file a lawsuit. If a claim is not filed within this time period, the family may lose the ability to seek compensation.

Different rules may apply when:

  • Claims against government entities: When a government agency or employee may be responsible, the victim’s family is usually given six months after the death to file a claim, under California Government Code § 911.2.
  • Medical malpractice cases: If the death resulted from medical malpractice, the claim generally must be filed within 1 year of the date the negligence was discovered or within 3 years of the date of death, whichever occurs first.
  • Minor children: If the person eligible to file the wrongful death claim is a minor, the two-year statute of limitations may be paused until the minor reaches 18 years of age.

Understanding these deadlines can be important when considering a wrongful death claim. Speaking with a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney can help families understand the time limits that may apply and the steps involved in pursuing a claim.

Why do you need a wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles? 

A wrongful death lawyer can help the family understand the legal claim while they deal with the practical impact of the death. This may include reviewing who may bring the claim, what deadlines apply, who may be responsible, and what losses may be recoverable under California law.

Opponent Playbook: How insurers and defendants may respond

After a wrongful death, an insurer or defendant may:

  • Dispute what caused the death
  • Blame the person who died
  • Blame another driver, company, contractor, property owner, or public entity
  • Argue that a medical condition caused the death
  • Dispute whether a family member has the right to bring the claim
  • Challenge the amount of financial support the person would have provided
  • Minimize the value of household services
  • Question the closeness of family relationships
  • Point to limited insurance coverage
  • Offer an early settlement before all family claims are understood

A lawyer helps address these problems by reviewing who has legal rights, identifying the responsible parties, responding to fault arguments, reviewing available insurance, and preparing the case for litigation when necessary.

The purpose is to protect the family’s legal rights while the claim moves through the proper process.

What does the Los Angeles wrongful death claim process look like?

Wrongful death claims can be difficult for families, not only emotionally, but also because of the legal and administrative steps involved. We understand that pursuing a claim after losing a loved one can feel overwhelming. 

With decades of experience, our team follows a structured process designed to guide families through each stage of the case while handling many of the legal details on their behalf.

A wrongful death claim usually begins with understanding who died, how the death happened, who may have caused it, and who may have the legal right to bring the claim.

1. Free consultation and family review

Every case begins with a free consultation. During this meeting, we listen to your story, review the circumstances of the incident, and explain the legal options that may be available.

2. Early and thorough investigation

If you decide to move forward, our team will begin gathering important information, including accident reports, witness statements, and other documentation that may support your claim.

3. Liability review

We carefully review the evidence to identify who may be responsible for the death and determine which parties may be held liable under California law.

4. Deadline review

We check your claim for the general statute of limitations and any shorter deadline, including possible public entity claim requirements.

5. Damages review

We review your family’s financial and personal losses under the categories allowed by California law to determine which types of damages may be included in the claim.

6. Insurance claim and negotiation

Our team communicates with insurance companies and other parties involved, helping to manage the legal process while your family focuses on healing. Negotiation may involve liability, family losses, insurance coverage, and legal standing.

7. Filing a lawsuit when necessary

If the claim cannot be resolved through negotiation, filing a lawsuit may be necessary before the applicable deadline expires.

Los Angeles wrongful death lawsuits may proceed through the Los Angeles County Superior Court system, depending on venue and the facts of the case.

Why are Los Angeles wrongful death claims often more complicated than they first appear?

A wrongful death claim may sound straightforward because the loss is clear, but the legal case can still involve several questions at once: Who has the right to bring the claim? What caused the death? Was a public entity involved? Are there separate estate claims? Did a criminal case also begin? Are there several family members with legal rights? What damages are allowed by law?

Los Angeles can add more layers. A fatal incident may involve LAPD, CHP, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, a hospital, a public agency, a business, an employer, or several insurers. Records may also develop over time as Medical Examiner findings, criminal investigations, or expert reviews become available. That is why these claims need careful review.

Legal Complexity in Los Angeles Wrongful Death Claims 

Los Angeles wrongful death claims may involve:

  • California wrongful death standing rules
  • Survival action issues
  • Medical Examiner review
  • Criminal and civil case overlap
  • Public entity claim procedures
  • Traffic crash reports
  • Multiple family claimants
  • Disputed family relationships
  • Comparative fault arguments
  • Insurance coverage limits
  • Los Angeles County Superior Court procedures

Litigation Readiness: What does it involve?

A litigation-ready wrongful death claim may require:

  • Identifying eligible family members
  • Reviewing the cause of death
  • Reviewing the parties that may be responsible
  • Reviewing insurance coverage
  • Calculating financial support and household services
  • Understanding non-economic damages allowed by law
  • Consulting medical, accident reconstruction, economic, vocational, or other experts when appropriate
  • Preparing a lawsuit before the applicable deadline if negotiation does not resolve the dispute

Litigation readiness does not guarantee a particular result. It means preparing the claim with the evidence and legal issues in mind from the beginning.

How do you choose the right wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles?

Choose a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer based on experience with fatal injury claims, clear communication, fee transparency, and the ability to handle a sensitive case without promising a result.

Does the firm handle your type of wrongful death claim?

Wrongful death claims can involve different facts, laws, and responsible parties.

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker handles Los Angeles wrongful death claims involving:

  • Fatal car accidents
  • Fatal truck accidents
  • Fatal motorcycle accidents
  • Fatal pedestrian accidents
  • Fatal bicycle accidents
  • Fatal Uber and Lyft accidents
  • Unsafe property deaths
  • Defective product deaths
  • Elder abuse and neglect deaths
  • Fatal burn injuries
  • Catastrophic injury death

Does the firm understand California wrongful death law?

California wrongful death claims involve specific rules about who may file, what damages may be claimed, and how deadlines work. A lawyer familiar with these issues can help the family understand what legal options may be available.

Does the firm have visible experience representing injured clients?

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker reports:

  • 50 years serving California
  • 100,000+ clients served
  • More than $2.2 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients

Past results depend on the specific facts of each case and do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar result.

Does the firm explain fees clearly?

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker offers free consultations. Contingency fee arrangements may be available, meaning attorney’s fees may depend on the outcome of the case. The written agreement explains all applicable terms and costs before representation begins.

Is the firm prepared to deal with insurance companies and litigation?

A wrongful death claim may require insurance negotiation, record review, expert analysis, court filing, and litigation preparation. A legal team should be prepared to pursue the claim through the appropriate process when liability, injuries, or damages remain disputed. 

What have former clients said about The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker?

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker publishes reviews from former clients who describe their individual experiences with the firm and the claims process.

“Excellent experience due to our auto accident. The staff are very professional and courteous. They make sure that your experience wit their office would be as pleasant as possible. Thank you!” – Leon A., Google Review

Disclaimer: Testimonials are voluntary statements from former clients. They are not intended to create expectations about outcomes and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of results.

Case Results That Reflect Personal Injury Experience

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker reports obtaining more than $2.2 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across its injury practice. Here are some of our results:

  • Settlement of $1,500,000 right before trial. Bicycle vs. security guard MVA, causing the need for multiple lower back surgeries
  • 3rd Party case settled for $495,000 before trial.  Involved a knee injury requiring a surgery, then a temporary stimulator
  • UIM Settlement totaling $230,000.  Client had multiple post-collision motor vehicle collisions, requiring significant expert work to prove causation.  Failed mediation, and resolved it 6 months later

Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; results are based on the specific facts of past cases.

Areas Served in Los Angeles

Our team represents families injured in wrongful death claims throughout Los Angeles and surrounding communities, including:

Central Los Angeles & Core Business Hubs

  • Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)
  • Century City
  • Mid-Wilshire / Miracle Mile
  • Koreatown

Westside & The “Silicon Beach” Corridor

  • Beverly Hills
  • Santa Monica
  • Culver City
  • Playa Vista
  • Westwood
  • Malibu

San Fernando Valley (The Valley) & North County

  • Burbank
  • Studio City / Sherman Oaks
  • Woodland Hills / Warner Center
  • Santa Clarita

South Bay & Harbor Area

  • Torrance
  • El Segundo / LAX Corridor
  • Long Beach
  • Inglewood
  • San Pedro

San Gabriel Valley (SGV) & Northeast

  • Pasadena
  • Glendale
  • Alhambra / Monterey Park
  • East Los Angeles (Unincorporated Area Focus)

The firm also represents families in other California communities, including Long Beach, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Ontario, and West Covina.

What resources may be relevant after a wrongful death in Los Angeles?

Depending on where the crash happened, a claim may involve records from law enforcement, the DMV, insurers, medical providers, repair shops, public agencies, or courts.

Los Angeles Wrongful Death Resources

Local Medical Resources

Medical care before death may involve hospitals or emergency facilities in and around Los Angeles, including:

Local Courthouses

Wrongful death lawsuits in Los Angeles County may involve the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Depending on filing location, case type, and court procedures, relevant courthouses may include:

Los Angeles Office Information

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker — Los Angeles Office
355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2450 – PMB #800
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Open 24/7

Disclaimer: The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker does not endorse any public agency, court, medical provider, repair provider, care facility, or other entity referenced on this page. Resources are provided for informational purposes only.

Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles Personal Injury Claims

What makes a wrongful death claim different from a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim belongs to the injured person, while a wrongful death claim belongs to certain surviving family members or dependents after the person dies. That difference changes the focus of the case. The claim is not only about what happened to the person who died. It is also about what the surviving family members lost because of the death.

Who can file a wrongful death claim in California?

California law limits who may bring a wrongful death claim. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, this may include the person’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and other people listed in the statute.

If there is no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child, the claim may need to look at who would inherit under California law.

Some dependent family members may also have rights in certain situations. This can include certain stepchildren, parents, legal guardians, or minors who lived with and depended on the person who died. The answer depends on the family relationship and the statute.

What if family members disagree about the wrongful death claim?

Family disagreements can happen after a death, especially when several people may have legal rights.

The legal question is not who is grieving the most. The legal question is who California law recognizes as someone who may bring or share in the wrongful death claim.

This can matter when there is a surviving spouse and children, adult children from different relationships, separated family members, dependent relatives, or uncertainty about who should speak for the family.

A lawyer can help identify the legally eligible family members and explain how the claim may need to be handled.

Is a wrongful death claim the same as a survival action?

No. A wrongful death claim and a survival action are different.

A wrongful death claim belongs to eligible surviving family members or dependents. It is based on their losses after the death.

A survival action belongs to the person who died, through the estate, personal representative, or successor in interest. It is based on claims the person could have brought if they had lived.

For example, if a person was injured in a crash and later died at the hospital, the family may need to review both issues. The wrongful death claim may address the family’s losses. A survival action may address claims connected to what the person suffered before death, depending on the facts and applicable law.

The practical point is simple: a fatal injury case may involve more than one legal claim.

What if there is a criminal case after the death?

A wrongful death claim is a civil case. It is separate from any criminal investigation or criminal case. A criminal case is brought by the government. A wrongful death claim is brought by eligible family members or a representative on their behalf.

The family usually does not have to wait for a criminal conviction before asking whether a civil wrongful death claim may be available.

The criminal case may still affect timing, records, and strategy, so the civil claim should be reviewed separately.

What if the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner case is still pending?

Some deaths in Los Angeles County may involve the Medical Examiner. The cause and manner of death may still be under review. Some cases may also be unavailable in the public case search if next of kin has not been notified or if the case is on a security hold.

A pending Medical Examiner review does not automatically prevent the family from asking about civil legal options. It may simply mean that some information is still developing.

What if the person died days or weeks after the injury?

A wrongful death claim may still be possible when the person dies after the injury, not only when death happens at the scene. The key question is whether the death was caused by someone else’s wrongful act or neglect.

For example, a person may be injured in a crash, receive hospital care, and pass away later from complications connected to the injury. In that situation, the timing of the injury, treatment, and death may all matter.

How much does it cost to speak with a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer?

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker offers free consultations for families seeking information about a possible wrongful death claim. Contingency fee arrangements may be available, meaning attorney’s fees may depend on the outcome of the matter. The written agreement explains applicable terms and costs.

For more answers to your questions, visit our FAQ page.

Talk to a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer

A wrongful death claim cannot undo the loss, but it can help surviving family members ask legal questions about responsibility, financial support, and the losses California law allows.

For 50 years, The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker has represented injured clients throughout California. Our legal team represents families in Los Angeles wrongful death claims arising from fatal motor vehicle collisions, unsafe property conditions, defective products, elder abuse and neglect, workplace incidents, and other fatal acts of negligence.

What Our Team Can Do

  • Review who may have the right to bring the claim
  • Identify potentially responsible parties
  • Review applicable deadlines
  • Communicate with insurers and responsible parties
  • Review financial and non-financial losses recognized under California law
  • Prepare the claim for litigation when necessary

Request a Free Consultation

Complete the online case evaluation form.

  • 50 Years Serving California
  • 100,000+ Clients Served
  • $2.2 Billion+ Reported in Verdicts and Settlements
  • Available 7 Days a Week
  • Free Consultation
  • Contingency Fee Arrangements May Be Available

Disclaimer: Past results depend on the specific facts of each case and do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar result.

Fee Disclosure: Contingency fee arrangements may be available. Attorney’s fees may depend on the outcome of the matter. All fee terms and any applicable costs are explained in the written representation agreement before representation begins.

Attorney Review and Office Information

You do not have to handle the insurance company or responsible party alone. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker has represented injured clients throughout California for 50 years and can review the facts of your claim, explain the legal options that may be available, and advocate on your behalf.

Free Case Evaluation • Contingency Fee Arrangements May Be Available • Available 24/7

Fill out our online form to get started.

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker — Los Angeles Office
355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2450 – PMB #800
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: 800-333-0000


Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.

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