California Wrongful Death Attorney

The death of a loved one is heartbreaking; but a preventable death is tragic.

We tend to meet our clients after the worst experiences of their lives, so we know the emotional toll the death of a loved one causes, as well as the financial hardship that can often follow.

When a loved one’s death was caused by another’s negligent or intentional act, the family of the person killed can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person or entity at fault.

A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought following a death caused by a car accident, a defective product, or an intentional killing, such as murder.

We know money does not bring back a lost loved one. But a wrongful death lawsuit can provide surviving family members with financial security and assistance in moving forward. Even more importantly, a wrongful death lawsuit can seek to compel change and attempt to prevent what happened to your loved one from happening to anyone else.

With over 150 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have successfully represented hundreds of families of wrongful death victims. We have built a reputation as fierce advocates, and have a demonstrated record of successful verdicts for our clients.

When a death could have been prevented, we hold those responsible accountable.

Call (855) 248-5659 for a free case evaluation

Who can be held accountable for wrongful death?

Some of the most common circumstances that result in wrongful death lawsuits include the following:

Car accidents
Truck accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Defective products
Elder abuse or neglect
Child abuse or neglect
Assault, manslaughter, or murder

Who can file a wrongful death suit?

California law limits who may file a wrongful death claim. The ability to file a claim is known as “standing.” In most cases, standing to file a wrongful death claim depends on the familial relationship the person seeking to bring the claim had with the deceased.

Frequently, the person with standing to bring a wrongful death lawsuit is the spouse or children of the deceased, or the parents of the deceased if he or she had no spouse or children. However, in certain circumstances a wrongful death lawsuit may be brought by any of the following:

The deceased person’s spouse
The deceased person’s children
The deceased person’s putative spouse
The deceased person’s unadopted children
The deceased person’s parents
Persons financially dependent on the deceased

A wrongful death lawsuit allows the surviving family members to get compensation for the funeral expenses, lost income, and compensation for the value of the lost relationship.

Here’s how we can help

We rely on our team of medical and investigative experts to examine the cause of death and determine if it was preventable.
We gather evidence showing how and why the death occurred.
We demonstrate, through economic projections, the loss in financial support the surviving family members will suffer, as well as the burden of medical and funeral expenses.
We collect the testimony of relatives, friends, and acquaintances to illustrate how significantly the deceased person’s passing has impacted the lives of those left behind.
We present this evidence to the at-fault party. We then attempt to negotiate a fair resolution that takes into consideration all of the ways our clients’ lives have been impacted.
If the at-fault party does not accept our demand, we refuse to settle for less than what our clients’ case is worth. We use our team of experts and our skill as trial lawyers to prove to a jury exactly what happened and why our clients deserve full compensation for their losses.

Representing families who have lost loved ones is what we do.

Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel, LLP, has obtained more than $600 million for our clients–including clients who have lost loved one in preventable circumstances. We have built a reputation for handling the most complex and high-stakes personal injury lawsuits involving catastrophic injury, permanent disability, disfigurement, or wrongful death.

If you need our help, don’t hesitate to contact us. We won’t charge you for a confidential consultation, and we would be happy to discuss how to get the assistance you and your family need.

Call (855) 248-5659 for a free case evaluation