Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer

A Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer can protect your family’s claim while you deal with the immediate loss. J&Y Law represents spouses, children, parents, and other eligible heirs after preventable deaths. Our cases include fatal crashes, unsafe property incidents, workplace accidents, defective products, and medical negligence.

Our attorneys investigate what happened and identify every responsible party and insurance policy. We calculate the family’s financial and personal losses. We also handle the insurer from the first call through settlement or trial. Speak with a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney before evidence is lost. Do so before anyone asks you to sign away your rights.

Our legal team has more than 80 years of combined experience. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients. Your case review is free, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Call J&Y Law at (877) 735-7035 for a free case evaluation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

More than 80 years of combined experience | Tens of millions recovered for clients | Free consultation | No attorney fee unless we recover compensation

Why Hire J&Y Law as Your Los Angeles Wrongful Death Law Firm?

Wrongful death claims often involve several heirs, large insurance policies, disputed fault, and losses that continue for decades. J&Y Law brings firm-specific results and Los Angeles roots to that work. Our attorneys also have experience with fatal injury claims.

A Reported $6 Million Wrongful Death Result

In one wrongful death case, the insurance company refused to make an offer. J&Y Law reports that it secured $6 million for the family. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every recovery depends on the facts and law. The available insurance and the family’s losses also change the result.

A Los Angeles Attorney Who Handles Wrongful Death Cases

J&Y Law co-founder Jason B. Javaheri handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He was born and raised in Los Angeles. He earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA and graduated from Loyola Law School. The firm is based in Century City and represents families throughout Los Angeles County and California.

A Full Investigation of the Death

The first report about a death may not tell the full story. A police report often names a single cause, and a business may blame one worker. The company can also repair a vehicle, erase video, or replace damaged equipment before the family learns what happened. 

Our lawyers look beyond the first report. We examine what each person and company did. We preserve evidence and search for every insurance policy and other source of compensation. If an insurer will not make a fair offer, we prepare the case for court.

A Case Built Around the Person Your Family Lost

A wrongful death claim covers more than lost income and funeral bills. The law also values the care, companionship, protection, household work, and guidance the person provided. We learn about that role and gather evidence to show it.

No Upfront Attorney Fee

J&Y Law handles wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fee up front. We receive a fee only if we win a settlement or verdict for you. We explain the written fee agreement before you hire us.

“They have been so helpful and I was very impressed with them.” — Ismael R., J&Y Law client. Read more client reviews.

What a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Do for Your Family

A lawyer can take over the legal work. This can shield the family from pressure by insurers and defense lawyers. Based on the case, J&Y Law may:

• Obtain records from police, fire departments, workplaces, doctors, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
• Preserve video, vehicle data, 911 calls, photos, physical evidence, and witness accounts.
• Identify each at-fault person, employer, property owner, manufacturer, contractor, or public agency.
• Review insurance policies, assets, and other possible sources of compensation.
• Bring in crash, medical, safety, and financial experts when needed.
• Calculate the value of lost income, benefits, household services, and family relationships.
• Handle insurance calls, legal filings, settlement talks, and trial work.

Evidence can be lost within days. A business may record over video. A vehicle may be repaired. Witnesses may become hard to find. Calling a lawyer early gives the legal team more time to preserve that evidence.

For a free consultation with a wrongful death lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (877) 735-7035.

Do Not Give the Insurance Company a Statement or Sign a Release

An insurance adjuster may contact the family soon after the death. The adjuster may sound helpful. Yet the adjuster may ask for a recorded statement, a broad medical authorization, or access to private records. The company may also offer a quick settlement before the family knows the claim’s full value.

You do not have to guess about the facts or accept an offer during that call. Do not sign a release before a lawyer explains what it covers. A signed release can end valid claims, including claims another responsible party or insurance policy might cover.

Save letters, emails, claim numbers, and the caller’s contact details. Tell the adjuster you want to speak with a lawyer before continuing. If J&Y Law takes your case, our attorneys can handle the insurer. We can protect your privacy and provide the information the law requires. We can also keep the company from using your words out of context.

Do You Have a Wrongful Death Case?

California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death claim. The death must have been caused by a wrongful act or neglect.

In most neglect cases, the family must prove four facts. The defendant had a duty to use reasonable care. The defendant broke that duty, and this caused the death. The family also suffered losses because of the death. Faulty products, intentional acts, medical neglect, and unsafe property may involve other rules.

You may have a case even if no one was arrested or charged with a crime. A civil claim is separate from a criminal case. It also uses a lower standard of proof. The lack of a criminal charge does not end the family’s civil rights. Neither does a not-guilty verdict.

The best way to know if you have a case is to let a lawyer review the facts. J&Y Law offers this review at no cost.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?

California limits who may file. The first group includes the person’s spouse or registered domestic partner and children. A deceased child’s own children may also qualify.

If there are no living children or grandchildren, other heirs may qualify. This rule follows California law for an estate with no will. Based on the family, the group may include parents or siblings.

Some people may also qualify if they depended on the person for money. They may include a putative spouse, that spouse’s children, stepchildren, parents, and some legal guardians. A putative spouse is someone who believed in good faith that the marriage was valid. A minor may qualify under another rule. The child must have lived in the home for at least 180 days. The child must also have received at least half of their support there.

An unmarried partner does not have an automatic right to file. A sibling also does not qualify in every case. One person’s right to file can affect the other heirs. Tell your lawyer about each spouse, partner, child, parent, stepchild, and other possible heir.

California Usually Requires the Heirs to Bring One Action

California generally treats the heirs’ wrongful death claims as one action and expects all known heirs to be included. Each eligible heir has a separate interest, but the claims are ordinarily litigated together. This rule helps prevent several lawsuits over the same death. The directions for California Civil Jury Instruction 3921 explain this joint-action rule.

Leaving out an heir can create serious problems with the lawsuit or settlement. Tell J&Y Law about every possible heir before anyone files a claim. Do the same before the family divides a settlement or signs a release. The firm can determine who qualifies and address disagreements before they put the case at risk.

What Compensation Is Available in a California Wrongful Death Claim?

Wrongful death damages focus on what the family lost. California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.61 sets the broad rule. Civil Jury Instruction 3921 describes the compensation eligible heirs may seek, including:

• Financial support the person would likely have provided.
• Work benefits, gifts, or other money the family could expect to receive.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• The value of childcare, cooking, cleaning, repairs, rides, and other household work.
• Loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, and moral support.
• Loss of assistance, protection, affection, and society.
• Loss of a spouse or partner’s marital relationship.
• Loss of a parent’s training and guidance.

The person did not need to earn a paycheck for the family to have a strong claim. A stay-at-home parent, retired spouse, child, or other family member may have provided care. That care and household help may have great value.

California does not let a jury award money for the family’s grief, sorrow, or mental pain. That rule may sound harsh. It does not mean the loss has no value. The claim instead shows the money and relationship losses allowed by law.

Medical bills and other losses the person had before death usually belong to the estate. They are part of a separate claim called a survival action.

How Much Is a Wrongful Death Case Worth?

No honest average settlement can tell a family what its case is worth. The value depends on the evidence. It also depends on the losses of each person who has a right to recover.

Key facts include the person’s age, health, income, work benefits, expected working years, and role at home. The value also turns on each family bond. Insurance limits, the defendant’s assets, and a dispute over fault can each change the outcome.

Some cases need an economist to calculate future support and the value of household services. Family members, friends, and coworkers can also help. Photos, messages, calendars, and videos may show the care and guidance the person provided each day.

J&Y Law does not rely on an online settlement tool. We find the sources of recovery and value the claim from the evidence in your case.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Los Angeles

Our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers handle fatal injury claims involving:

• Car accidents, drunk drivers, hit-and-runs, and unsafe road conditions.
• Commercial truck accidents involving drivers, carriers, brokers, repair shops, or manufacturers.
• Pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle crashes.
• Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare accidents.
• Dangerous property, negligent security, fires, drownings, and falls.
• Faulty vehicles, machines, medical devices, and consumer products.
• Construction and workplace accidents caused by someone other than the deceased person’s employer.
• Medical negligence, nursing home neglect, and abuse.

This list is not complete. A claim may arise from any careless or wrongful act that causes a death. Call us if you are unsure whether your case fits one of these groups.

Investigating a Fatal Accident in Los Angeles

The first days after a death decide how much evidence still exists. Keep the incident or report number and the investigating officer’s information. Also keep the location of any vehicle, photos, and every message from an insurer. Write down nearby homes, stores, traffic cameras, or transit vehicles that may have captured video. Much of that footage is erased on a short schedule.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner may review the death. A family can use the agency’s online case search and services to check the assigned investigator. The search also shows the case status. The final cause and manner of death may appear when available. A completed case file may include the autopsy, toxicology, and investigator reports. The family can request the report and proof of death. These records can be important, but they may not answer who was legally responsible.

Fatal traffic records also require planning. The Los Angeles Police Department says a traffic report involving a death cannot be released through its online request system. It must be requested by U.S. mail. A freeway collision may instead involve the California Highway Patrol. A crash elsewhere in the county may involve the Sheriff’s Department or a local police agency.

An official investigation serves public safety and recordkeeping purposes. It does not replace an investigation built to prove the family’s civil claim. J&Y Law can request the correct records and preserve outside video and physical evidence. We can also interview witnesses and retain experts when the cause of death or fault is disputed. A city vehicle, public road, public hospital, or transit agency may be involved. If so, the firm can identify the much shorter government-claim deadline.

What Is the Deadline to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 applies in many cases. It gives the family two years from the date of death to file suit. Do not treat this as a safe time to wait. Key evidence may be lost long before then.

Much shorter rules can apply. A claim against a public agency often has a six-month deadline. This can include a city, county, state agency, public school, or public hospital. Government Code section 911.2 generally requires a written claim before the family may sue.

Deaths tied to medical neglect follow a different rule. Code of Civil Procedure section 340.5 generally uses the earlier of two dates. One is a year after the harm was found or should have been found. The other is three years after the injury, though some cases follow different rules.

Other time limits may depend on the type of case and the age of an heir. The date the cause of death was found can also change the deadline. Do not assume that the two-year rule protects you. A lawyer should find each possible deadline at once.

Wrongful Death Claims and Survival Actions Are Different

A wrongful death claim belongs to the family members who qualify. It seeks compensation for their own financial and personal losses.

A survival action belongs to the person’s estate. It carries on a claim the person could have brought if they had lived. The estate may seek medical bills, lost pay between the injury and death, or property damage. Some cases may also support penalties or punitive damages.

Code of Civil Procedure section 377.34 limits these damages. As of 2026, a new survival action usually cannot seek money for the person’s pain and suffering before death. A temporary rule covered actions filed from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. Elder abuse and other laws may change the result. A lawyer should check the filing date and current law.

The family may be able to bring both claims in one case. J&Y Law can review each claim so that no available recovery is missed.

What Happens After You Hire J&Y Law?

We Listen and Identify the Immediate Deadlines

The first step is a private talk about what happened and who is in the family. We also ask about any contact from an insurer or defense lawyer. We find out who may file and whether a short public-agency or medical deadline may apply.

We Preserve Evidence and Find Every Responsible Party

Our team requests records, interviews witnesses, sends notices to preserve evidence, and reviews the insurance coverage. We retain experts when needed. An employer, contractor, property owner, manufacturer, or public agency may share fault with the person who caused the death.

We Document the Full Loss and Demand Compensation

We gather income records, employment benefits, funeral bills, and evidence of household services. We also document the relationships within the family. Once the claim is ready, we demand full compensation from the at-fault parties and their insurers.

We Negotiate From a Position of Preparation

Many wrongful death cases settle without a trial. We still build the case for court. This shows the defense that the family is ready to move forward. If the insurer disputes fault or will not offer fair compensation, we can file suit. The case may then move through discovery, mediation, and trial.

The time needed will vary. A clear case with enough insurance may end in several months. A case with many defendants or a dispute over fault can take longer. A public agency or trial can also extend the case to two years or more. We can give a better estimate after we review the evidence and the parties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles Wrongful Death Claims

How soon should I contact a wrongful death lawyer?

Call a lawyer as soon as you are able. Legal deadlines run for months or years, but evidence often disappears within days. A lawyer can start preserving video, vehicle data, and records. The lawyer can also contact witnesses while the family handles its urgent needs.

Can parents sue for the wrongful death of an adult child?

Sometimes. Parents may qualify as heirs under California law. They may also qualify if they depended on the adult child for money. The answer can change if the person had a spouse, registered partner, children, or other heirs.

Can a brother or sister file a wrongful death claim in California?

Sometimes. A sibling may qualify when the person left no surviving children or grandchildren. The sibling must also be entitled to inherit under California’s intestate succession law. A surviving spouse, domestic partner, or parent may affect the answer. The type of property in the estate can also change the answer. Financial dependence alone does not give every sibling a claim. An attorney should review the full family tree.

Can we file if our loved one was not employed?

Yes. The right to file does not depend on a job. The claim may include the value of household work and the loss of care, companionship, protection, training, and guidance. A person’s role in a family can have great value without wages.

What if our loved one was partly at fault?

Partial fault does not always block a recovery in California. The defense may blame the person who died. If it succeeds, the family’s compensation may be reduced by that share of fault. A lawyer can test the claim against the facts and identify others who may share responsibility.

Can we bring a claim if the responsible person was never charged with a crime?

Yes. The family can bring a civil claim even when no criminal charge is filed. Civil and criminal cases have different goals and standards of proof.

What if the at-fault driver had no insurance or also died?

There may still be a source of compensation. It could be uninsured motorist coverage, the driver’s estate, an employer, or a vehicle owner. A rideshare policy, truck policy, property owner, or product manufacturer may also be involved. We review the policies, contracts, ownership records, and other evidence before we value the claim.

Will the case have to go to trial?

Most civil cases end in a settlement, but no lawyer can promise one. J&Y Law builds each claim for serious settlement talks. We can take the case to trial if the other side will not pay fairly.

How much does a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer cost?

Your case review with J&Y Law is free. If we take the case, we work on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney fee up front. We receive a fee only if we recover money for you. We explain the fee and case costs in writing before the work begins.

How is a contingency fee calculated?

The written fee agreement states the percentage the law firm receives from a settlement or verdict. It should also explain case costs. Those costs may be deducted before or after the attorney fee is calculated. The exact terms can affect the amount the family receives. Before you sign, ask J&Y Law to show the calculation with a simple example. Also ask what happens to costs if there is no recovery.

Is a wrongful death settlement taxable?

Compensatory damages arising from physical injury or death are often excluded from federal taxable income. Punitive damages and interest may be taxable. The wording and allocation of a settlement can also change the tax result. IRS guidance on lawsuit awards and settlements explains the general rules. Ask a qualified tax professional to review the actual settlement before funds are distributed.

Speak With a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawyer at J&Y Law

Your family does not need every legal answer before calling us. Tell us what happened. Our team will explain if J&Y Law may be able to help. We will also identify the deadlines and explain what comes next.

Call (877) 735-7035 or complete our free case evaluation form. We are available 24/7. There is no attorney fee up front. You pay attorney fees only if we recover money for you.