Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Directory

  • Home
  • Credentials Matter
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Automobile Accident
    • Car Accident
    • Workers Compensation
    • Wrongful Death
    • Cruise Accident
    • Slip & Fall
    • Uber Accident
  • Blog
  • Contact an Attorney

February 20, 2018 by MatadorAdmin

Wrongful Death Lawsuits and Estates

A wrongful death claim applies when someone is killed from negligence or an intentionally harmful act. Wrongful death claims are filed by a representative of the estate of the deceased on behalf of the surviving family members. Had the victim survived, they would have likely filed a personal injury claim. Reasons for filing a wrongful death claim include the following:

  • Medical Malpractice
  • Accidents that occur at work
  • Car, train, airplane or bus accidents
  • Abuse or neglect in a nursing home
  • As a result of a criminal act
  • Exposure to harmful substances at work, such as asbestos

If the deceased possessed an estate, the executor can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the estate of the deceased, as a estate planning lawyer Phoenix AZ trusts can attest. If there was no will or estate,  this is called “intestate.” In the case of intestate, the laws concerning dying intestate determine the estate’s executor. In addition, if the will does not designate an executor, or if the assigned executor cannot perform the required duties, a judge may step in on behalf of the estate and assign an executor.

If you suspect you have a wrongful death claim because of the manner in which your loved one died, don’t hesitate to contact a skilled lawyer. Time is of the essence, and gathering evidence is vitally important in proving wrongful death. A wrongful death attorney can help research the evidence surrounding your loved one’s death and discuss how to represent the estate on their behalf.

What can you expect to receive from a wrongful death claim?

Before determining the value of a lawsuit, the following issues need to be addressed:

  • Did other individuals depend on the decedent financially?
  • Was your loved one married or single and did they have any minor children?
  • How much did your loved one suffer because of the wrongful death?
  • What were the total funeral costs?
  • Did you incur any medical costs to help save your loved one’s life?
  • Did your loved one’s behavior contribute to the incident? If so, this might result in a lower monetary settlement.

Instances that may increase the amount of a settlement include:

  • If the decedent had minor children
  • Costly medical procedures prior to the individual’s death
  • Problems with the insurance company not paying claims and/or acting unprofessionally and unethically
  • Continued production of or exposure to a product deemed dangerous (if the company producing/distributing the product knew of its danger)
  • Altered medical records after a medical malpractice incident in a hospital or doctor’s office

It is critical that you contact an attorney as soon as you suspect your loved one may have been a victim of a wrongful death. Document any evidence, emails, conversations, videos that may help strengthen your case.

 

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Kamper Estrada, LLC for their insight into estate planning and wrongful death.

 

Filed Under: LA Personal Injury Law

Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers

  • Home
  • Credentials Matter
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Automobile Accident
    • Car Accident
    • Workers Compensation
    • Wrongful Death
    • Cruise Accident
    • Slip & Fall
    • Uber Accident
  • Blog
  • Contact an Attorney

L.A. Personal Injury Resources

LA Car Accident Lawyers
Automobile Accident Lawyer LA
Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer
Los Angeles Automobile Accident Attorney
Car Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
Los Angeles Workers Compensation Attorney
Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney
Los Angeles Slip & Fall Lawyer
Uber Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Woodland Hills CA
Truck Accident Lawyer Woodland Hills CA
Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys

Other Resources

Hot Legal Tips
Dog Bite lawyer Denver CO
Cruise Accident Lawyers LA
Drug Possession Lawyer Llano, TX
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Atlanta GA
Car Accident Lawyer Los Angeles CA

Contact an Attorney

Contact an attorney from one of Los Angeles' premier personal injury law firms.

Free Case Evaluation

No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and law practices. Such materials are for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or counsel. Information may not reflect current legal standards. For legal advice specific to your needs, contact an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. Do not rely on any statement on this website for any reason whatsoever. Furthermore, the information contained in this website is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice or representation. Your review or use of this web site, its information and links does not create an attorney-client relationship or an attorney-client privilege between this law firm and you. Statements made to this firm before the formation of an attorney-client relationship may not be privileged and confidential.


Other Resources
American Bar Association | The American Lawyer | National Lawyers Association | Lawyers Without Borders | American College of Trial Lawyers | American Bar Association | National Association of Women Lawyers | Lawyers Associated Worldwide | Car Accident Lawyer DC | DC Personal Injury Lawyer | Elizabeth, NJ Workers Comp Attorney


© COPYRIGHT 2025 LOS ANGELES PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS | POWERED BY SEO Marketing For Attorneys