Wrongful Death Attorneys in Los Angeles
Over 25 Years of Experience · Over $100 Million Recovered
First and foremost, the Bedford Law Group focuses heavily on Wrongful Death cases in Los Angeles, California. We are deeply committed to our community. For over a decade, we have vigorously represented those affected by the fatal negligence of others. Consequently, we have handled cases in almost every personal injury category imaginable, achieving unmatched success.
Although our successes have allowed us to recover millions of dollars for injured parties, unfortunately, some of those victories stem from wrongful death lawsuits. The circumstances that lead prospective clients to us send our caring hearts and dedicated legal minds into overdrive. We understand exactly how terrible making this call can be. Therefore, we are here to walk our clients through the entire process—from the initial grieving stage to the ultimate financial recovery stage where our attorneys excel.
Understanding Wrongful Death in California
Simply put, a wrongful death occurs when an individual dies due to the negligence, recklessness, or deliberate misconduct of another party. Tragically, a wrongful death can occur anywhere and at any time. Specifically, these fatal incidents frequently happen in homes, public spaces, on the roadways, or even within medical facilities due to malpractice.
In California, individuals who serve as personal representatives of the deceased—including parents, children, or spouses—may be directly eligible for financial recovery. Because California wrongful death legal statutes dictate strict filing rules, you must contact Bedford Law Group immediately to protect your family’s legal rights.
Common Causes of Fatal Accidents
Most wrongful death claims are brought against individuals or corporations that cause accidental deaths through careless actions. Examples include:
- Running a red light or ignoring traffic signals.
- Driving at excessively unsafe speeds.
- Using a cellphone or texting while driving instead of watching the road.
- Corporate negligence or unsafe premises liability.
Furthermore, automobile liability insurance will cover claims up to the policy limits. However, some at-fault drivers hold additional umbrella coverage provided by a homeowner’s policy. Consequently, our legal team aggressively pursues these secondary policies to pay maximum compensation for your loss.
Why Hire a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney?
When someone unexpectedly loses a beloved family member, the resulting grief feels completely overwhelming. Consequently, a heavy heart can easily create a skewed or delayed approach to holding the responsible parties accountable.
Therefore, hiring an experienced lawyer from the Bedford Law Group allows your family to step back and focus entirely on healing. Meanwhile, our wrongful death attorneys take the aggressive lead in pursuing those responsible. What initially seems like a simple chain of responsibility often becomes highly convoluted when massive insurance companies, hospitals, or public entities act as the defendants.
Your Rights to Financial Restitution
Our attorneys will establish a clear chain of liability while strategically protecting your rights under California law. Moreover, while traditional wrongful death claims focus on family losses, recent updates to California survival action laws now allow the estate to recover the deceased’s pre-death pain and suffering. Ultimately, our accomplished attorney group focuses on securing every available area of restitution:
In an effort to determine the precise amount available for recovery, the court considers multiple factors. For instance, they evaluate the deceased’s age, character, health, earning capacity, and life expectancy. We will confidently take the lead in presenting these facts, allowing your family to support each other while we sort through the complex financial aspects of your loss.
Dedicated Wrongful Death Experience & Expert Partnerships
Our dedicated team has successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of grieving families. Furthermore, we understand that appointing the proper professional experts is half the battle in a fatal accident lawsuit.
In an effort to obtain the maximum financial recovery, the Bedford Law Group utilizes strong, proven relationships with forensic economic experts. Consequently, these professionals provide the court with a comprehensive picture—analyzing the present, future, and diminished financial scope of your family’s loss. Ultimately, we leverage our legal strengths alongside our partners’ analytical skills to ensure your loss is fully respected and compensated in the courtroom.
Legal Representation Now and Moving Forward
Like many complex personal injury cases, wrongful death lawsuits require time and dedication to achieve maximum results. It is vital that our clients know our sole focus is delivering the absolute best financial recovery package available. This deep commitment makes our team uniquely different. We are in it for the long haul and consider our clients an integral part of our community.
Contact the Bedford Law Group today to understand exactly how we can help your family move forward after such a devastating loss. We provide a completely free, confidential consultation. Let’s work together on healing your family.
Related Practice Areas
Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney FAQs
Who is legally allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California?
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, the deceased person’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, or surviving children have the primary right to file a claim. Furthermore, if no such relatives exist, anyone entitled to the property of the decedent by intestate succession may file.
What is the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in Los Angeles?
Generally, surviving family members have exactly two years from the date of the deceased person’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, if a government entity or public agency caused the fatal accident, the deadline shrinks dramatically to just six months.
What types of damages can our family recover in a wrongful death case?
Families can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Specifically, this includes funeral and burial expenses, the financial support the deceased would have contributed, loss of prospective inheritance, and compensation for the loss of love, companionship, and guidance (loss of consortium).
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?
A wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family for their personal losses. Conversely, a survival action compensates the deceased’s estate for losses suffered before death. Consequently, recent California laws now allow survival actions to recover the deceased’s pre-death pain and suffering.
Can we still file a lawsuit if our loved one was partially at fault for the fatal accident?
Yes. Because California follows a ‘pure comparative negligence’ rule, your family can still recover financial damages even if the deceased shared some fault for the incident. Ultimately, the court will simply reduce the final compensation by the deceased’s percentage of fault.
