Lawndale Wrongful Death Lawyers

The sudden death of a contributing member of the family can have a devastating effect on the household’s financial situation. When a loved one has died as a result of another person’s malice or harm, the closest surviving relatives may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim for compensation in civil court.  

For more than two decades, Ellis Injury Law has helped families in the Los Angeles Metro gain the understanding they need to find closure after the death of a loved one. We not only lend a compassionate ear to the family’s suffering, but can connect you with local grieving, support, and advocacy groups if necessary.  

Before dipping into life savings or filing for bankruptcy, it’s worth calling Ellis Injury Law personal injury lawyers to see if you have a viable claim. Our law office is conveniently located in El Segundo, less than 10 minutes away via the I-405.   

What is a wrongful death claim? 

There are many causes for wrongful death claims – the most common being a motor vehicle accident. However, we can also help you if the decedent perished due to: 

  • Medical malpractice, wrong diagnosis, a missed diagnosis, or delayed diagnosis
  • Construction site accident, workplace accident, or parking structure collapse 
  • Premises liability slip/trip/fall or dog attack 
  • Airplane, helicopter, or boat crash 
  • Contaminated food or drugs 
  • Intentional malice or homicide 

Even if you’re not sure how your loved one passed, it’s always worth looking into if you suspect foul play. Often, police reports do not go far enough in determining the exact cause of death. A wrongful death lawyer will have the resources necessary to pursue a full-scale investigation, subpoenaing court documents, interviewing witnesses, securing surveillance footage, consulting experts, and ultimately getting to the bottom of what happened. 

Types of wrongful death compensation 

Lawndale wrongful death lawyers work on a contingency basis only – meaning they don’t get paid if they can’t secure compensation on your behalf. Maximum compensation for wrongful death cases may include: 
 

  • The loss of love, society, companionship, or moral support 
  • The loss of household support 
  • The loss of gifts or inheritance benefits 
  • The loss of marital spousal relations 
  • The loss of guidance for minors 
  • The loss of financial support, such as mortgage payments or college tuition 
  • Emotional distress (if a loved one personally witnessed the death) 
  • Burial, cremation, funeral, and other out-of-pocket expenses 

There are several other types of compensation you may collect if you file a separate “Survival Action.” A survival action charges the defendants for losses owed to the decedent if they would have survived, such as: 

  • The cost of medical bills 
  • The decedent’s pain and suffering 
  • The decedent’s lost wages (if the person lingered) 
  • Vehicle loss or damage (in cases of motor vehicle crashes) 
  • Punitive damages (if the defendant(s) were intentional, reckless, wanton, or malicious) 

Generally speaking, a survival cause of action is only brought if the decedent did not die immediately from his or her injuries. If the deceased lived for a matter of days, weeks, or months between the accident and death, then a survival cause of action is appropriate to recover losses the decedent sustained during that time period and hold liable parties accountable for their actions.  

Get a free consultation to explore your legal options 

In addition to filing lawsuits in civil court, you may also wish to pursue criminal charges in a case of gross negligence or recklessness. Calling a personal injury attorney is the best way to understand all the legal options available for you to make an informed choice, given your exact situation. You may only have two to three years to pursue damages, so it’s important to contact a Lawndale wrongful death attorney right away. After all, it costs you nothing upfront to investigate the matter further.