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The sudden loss of a family member due to someone else’s negligence leaves behind devastating grief and financial uncertainty. Families struggle with profound sorrow while facing difficult decisions about their future and seeking answers about what happened.
At Thompson Law, we stand beside families in Glendale, California, during these darkest moments. Our wrongful death attorneys work to secure your family’s financial stability, ensure accountability for those responsible, and honor your loved one’s memory through determined legal advocacy.
We recognize that every family experiences loss differently. Our team offers straightforward guidance, honest counsel, and committed support throughout your legal journey.
Call today for your FREE CONSULTATION.
California’s wrongful death statutes allow specific family members to file claims, including surviving spouses, domestic partners, children, and in some cases, parents or other dependents who relied on the deceased financially. The law permits recovery for multiple types of losses:
California also recognizes survival actions, filed by the estate, which recover damages the deceased could have claimed if they had lived, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering before death.
Damages in California wrongful death cases are distributed according to intestate succession laws when multiple family members qualify as beneficiaries. An experienced attorney helps families understand how compensation will be allocated among eligible parties.
Contact our Glendale wrongful death attorneys for a FREE CASE REVIEW to understand your family’s rights.
A wrongful death lawyer manages the legal complexities of your case while your family focuses on emotional healing and supporting one another.
Our services include:
Having a skilled wrongful death attorney in Glendale ensures your family has a dedicated advocate protecting your rights, amplifying your voice, and securing your financial future.
Contact our Glendale wrongful death lawyers for a FREE CASE EVALUATION.
Our legal team has recovered more than $1.9 billion for families and individuals facing catastrophic losses. This includes significant verdicts and settlements in wrongful death cases involving medical negligence, dangerous products, and fatal accidents across California.
No two families experience wrongful death the same way. We dedicate time to understanding your loved one’s role in your household, your financial challenges, and your emotional well-being. You maintain direct communication with your attorney, guaranteeing focused attention on your case.
Families we represent consistently highlight our prompt and transparent communication practices. We keep you informed and explain legal proceedings in accessible language, whether negotiating with insurers or preparing for courtroom proceedings.
You pay nothing upfront for our legal services. We only collect attorney fees when we successfully recover compensation for your family. This structure allows us to manage all case expenses while you concentrate on healing.
Timing is critical in wrongful death claims. Our team immediately secures evidence, obtains police reports, preserves video recordings, and interviews witnesses. Prompt action strengthens your claim and ensures your loved one’s story receives complete documentation.
Call our Glendale wrongful death attorneys now for a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your case.
Fatal accidents occur under many circumstances, but each represents a preventable tragedy caused by carelessness or reckless conduct. Our Glendale wrongful death lawyers represent families in cases involving:
No matter how your loved one died, our team provides empathetic listening, guides you through legal procedures, and holds negligent parties accountable.
Reach out to our wrongful death lawyers today for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Don’t let medical bills and insurance stress overwhelm you. Thompson Law is ready to stand by your side and pursue fair compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
California law specifies which individuals can bring wrongful death lawsuits. Eligible parties include surviving spouses, domestic partners, children, and if there are no surviving children, the deceased’s parents. Stepchildren and putative spouses may also have standing under certain circumstances. The personal representative of the estate files survival actions on behalf of the deceased.
California requires wrongful death claims to be filed within two years from the date of death. Cases involving government entities require filing a claim with the appropriate agency within six months before a lawsuit can proceed. Missing these deadlines typically bars families from recovering any compensation.
California follows pure comparative negligence rules. If the deceased shared some responsibility for the accident that caused their death, recovery may be reduced proportionally. For example, if your loved one was 20% at fault, damages would be reduced by 20%.
California law distinguishes between wrongful death damages (compensating survivors) and survival action damages (compensating the deceased’s estate). Wrongful death damages include loss of financial support, companionship, and funeral expenses. Survival actions recover the deceased’s medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering before death.
California does not allow recovery of punitive damages in wrongful death cases, though they may be available through survival actions in cases involving intentional harm or gross negligence. The law also bars recovery by individuals who abandoned or failed to support the deceased.
Courts determine how wrongful death recoveries are divided among multiple beneficiaries based on each person’s relationship to the deceased and the degree of their loss. Factors include financial dependency, closeness of relationship, and age of survivors.
Insurance adjusters often employ specific tactics to minimize wrongful death settlements:
Insurers may present low settlement offers shortly after a death, before families understand the full value of their claim. These offers rarely account for long-term financial losses or the true impact on surviving family members.
Adjusters may argue that the deceased had limited life expectancy, reduced earning potential, or that survivors will adapt to the loss more easily than expected. These arguments aim to reduce compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Insurance companies frequently challenge fault determinations, claiming contributory negligence or arguing that other factors caused the death. This tactic pressures families to accept lower settlements rather than face lengthy litigation.
Insurers sometimes slow the claims process through repeated requests for documentation, extended investigations, or delayed responses. These delays create financial pressure on grieving families who need immediate support.
Insurance companies may monitor surviving family members’ social media accounts or conduct surveillance to find evidence that contradicts claims of emotional distress or financial hardship.
Having experienced wrongful death representation protects families from these tactics and ensures insurance companies cannot take advantage during vulnerable times.
Understanding the legal process helps families prepare for what lies ahead.
Your attorney reviews the circumstances of the death, identifies liable parties, and assesses the strength of your potential claim. This consultation is confidential and typically free.
Attorneys collect police reports, medical records, witness statements, expert analyses, and any other evidence documenting how the death occurred and who bears responsibility.
Your attorney prepares and files the wrongful death complaint in the appropriate California court, naming all defendants and outlining your family’s claims and requested damages.
Both sides exchange information through written questions, document requests, and depositions. This phase can last several months as attorneys gather all relevant facts.
Most wrongful death cases settle before trial. Your attorney negotiates with insurance companies and defense counsel to secure fair compensation without the stress and uncertainty of trial.
If settlement fails, your attorney prepares your case for trial, including witness preparation, exhibit creation, and legal argument development. Trials can last days or weeks depending on case complexity.
If either party believes legal errors occurred during trial, they may appeal the verdict. Appeals can extend the case timeline significantly.
Throughout this process, your Thompson Law attorney keeps you informed and involved in major decisions affecting your case outcome.
Time is limited under California law for filing wrongful death claims. Taking prompt action protects your family’s legal rights and preserves evidence.
Keep records of all expenses related to the death, including medical bills, funeral costs, and travel expenses. Save all correspondence from insurance companies or potential defendants.
Photograph accident scenes if possible, save any physical evidence, and write down your recollections of events while details remain fresh in your memory.
Do not provide recorded statements to insurance adjusters without first consulting an attorney. These statements can be used to minimize or deny your claim.
Insurance companies monitor social media for information to use against claimants. Set accounts to private and avoid posting about the death, your case, or family activities.
Contact a wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible after your loss. Early legal involvement protects evidence, meets filing deadlines, and prevents costly mistakes.
Navigating wrongful death claims while grieving requires compassionate support and skilled legal guidance. Thompson Law offers a FREE CASE REVIEW to help your family understand your rights and available options.
Our Glendale wrongful death attorneys will listen to your story, address your concerns, and explain how we can help secure the compensation and accountability your family deserves. Reach out today to begin receiving the advocacy and support you need during this difficult time.
A wrongful death occurs when someone dies due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. This includes deaths from car accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, workplace accidents, or any situation where the deceased could have filed a personal injury claim had they survived.
Stepchildren may file wrongful death claims if they can demonstrate they were dependent on the deceased for support. Stepparents generally cannot file wrongful death claims unless they legally adopted the deceased. Each situation requires individual legal analysis.
Your attorney will explore all potential sources of compensation, including the defendant’s personal assets, umbrella policies, employer liability, property owner insurance, or other parties who share responsibility. In some cases, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may provide compensation.
California’s two-year statute of limitations typically begins on the date of death. However, certain exceptions may extend this deadline, such as cases involving fraudulent concealment or delayed discovery of the cause of death. An attorney can evaluate whether your case falls within filing deadlines.
Cases against California government entities require filing a government claim within six months of the death. The agency has 45 days to respond. Only after claim denial or inaction can families file lawsuits in court. These cases involve special procedural rules and shorter deadlines.
California law allows eligible family members to file jointly or separately. When families disagree, courts can appoint a representative to pursue the claim on behalf of all beneficiaries. Legal counsel helps facilitate family discussions and protect everyone’s interests.
Compensation for wrongful death claims is generally not taxable under federal or California tax law. However, any portion representing punitive damages or interest on the settlement may be taxable. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
California’s pure comparative negligence rule allows recovery even when the deceased shares fault. However, damages are reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the deceased. For example, if your loved one was 30% responsible, your recovery would be reduced by 30%.
Criminal and civil cases proceed independently. A criminal conviction can strengthen a wrongful death claim, but families can pursue civil cases even if criminal charges were never filed or resulted in acquittal. Civil cases use a lower burden of proof than criminal prosecutions.
Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.
