Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer

When a fatal accident takes a loved one in Los Angeles, families are left grieving while also facing funeral costs, lost income, and unanswered questions. These tragedies happen across the region: collisions on the 405, 101, and 110 freeways, pedestrian deaths on busy surface streets, falls from unsafe properties, dangerous premises, and other preventable incidents throughout LA County. While nothing can replace the person you lost, California law gives certain surviving family members the right to seek justice and financial recovery.

A wrongful death claim is meant to ease the financial and personal burden a family carries after a negligent or wrongful act causes a death. Understanding who can file, and how long they have, is the first step.

How wrongful death happens in Los Angeles

• Fatal crashes on the 405, 101, and 110 and on heavily traveled surface streets
• Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in dense neighborhoods and crossings
• Deaths caused by unsafe premises, falls, or defective conditions
• Fatal incidents involving commercial vehicles, rideshare, or other drivers

Who can file & the California law that controls

California law limits who may bring a wrongful death claim. Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, those with standing typically include the surviving spouse or domestic partner, the children of the deceased, and, if there are none, other relatives who would inherit under California's intestate succession rules. Certain dependents may also qualify. Determining standing can be complex, and we help families sort it out.

• The general deadline to file is two years from the date of death under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
• If a public entity is involved, such as a death tied to a dangerous public road or a government vehicle, a government claim must usually be filed within six months under California Government Code section 911.2 before any lawsuit.

Common case types

• Fatal motor vehicle, motorcycle, and truck collisions
• Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities
• Deaths from dangerous or poorly maintained property
• Fatalities involving negligent businesses or drivers

Compensation a family may recover

California applies pure comparative negligence, so a recovery may be reduced if the deceased shared some fault, but it is not necessarily barred. Depending on the case, surviving family members may recover:

• Economic damages such as lost financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the value of household services
• Non-economic damages such as the loss of the loved one's love, companionship, comfort, and guidance

We never promise a specific amount. Each case depends on its facts, the relationship to the deceased, and the evidence of fault.

Deadlines, the courthouse & how MMG Law Firm helps

Wrongful death lawsuits in Los Angeles are generally filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with many heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Because the two-year deadline, and the six-month government claim window where a public entity is involved, can pass before a grieving family is ready, early legal guidance protects your rights and preserves evidence.

MMG Law Firm is based in Glendale, just up the I-5 from Los Angeles. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan offers compassionate, free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and handles wrongful death cases on contingency, so your family pays no fee unless we recover. We manage the legal process so you can focus on your family.