Beverly Hills Wrongful Death Lawyer

Types of Damages Available in California Wrongful Death Cases

CCP §377.61 sets out what surviving family members may recover. California law allows families to recover both economic and non-economic damages through wrongful death claims. Economic damages cover the hard-number losses: funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses incurred before death, lost income, and the value of household services your loved one would have provided. They also cover future earnings tied to the decedent’s work-life expectancy. Funeral expenses and burial expenses are usually the first category families think about. Lost income and lost financial support often drive the largest portion of the recovery. Funeral costs and medical bills get documented with receipts and provider invoices, the kind of paperwork no family wants to gather, but our team does the gathering.

Non-economic damages include intangible losses such as love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, and moral support. California courts recognize these losses as real and compensable, though no fixed formula exists. Juries weigh the deceased’s age, the closeness of the relationship to each heir, and the depth of the loss.

Additionally, punitive damages are not recoverable in a straight wrongful death case under CCP §377.34. For medical malpractice wrongful death cases, the MICRA non-economic cap under AB 35 sits at $650,000 in 2026 and rises in scheduled annual steps to $1,000,000 by 2033.

Talk to a Beverly Hills wrongful death attorney about your family’s case. Free Consultation.

Why Choose Our Beverly Hills Personal Injury Attorney for Wrongful Death Cases

Etehad Law has spent more than 30 years representing California injury victims and grieving families in personal injury claims and wrongful death matters. Simon P. Etehad and our team handle cases across Los Angeles County and throughout California. We have sat with families in the days after the call from the hospital. We have sat with families in the weeks after the highway patrol knocked on the door. We have sat with families months after a trial verdict, when the legal work is done but the grief remains. The work itself is always the same: facts, evidence, deadlines, and a client who needs to know what comes next.

We treat every family the way we would want our own treated: straight answers, real attorney access, and steady communication during a deeply sensitive time. Specific experience in wrongful death cases is crucial when selecting a personal injury lawyer, and that experience is what we bring to the file from day one.

Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. No upfront costs, no hourly billing, no legal fees unless we secure compensation for the family. The initial consultation is free, and we walk through legal options before any decision about representation. Etehad Law has recovered millions for clients across Southern California in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every wrongful death case worth pursuing gets evaluated on its facts.

Families choose us for our expertise in wrongful death law rather than for mere referrals. They want legal representation that respects what they are going through. You get direct attorney access, same-week intake, and a real case strategy. That is what 30 years of California practice looks like. Our Beverly Hills personal injury attorneys answer the call themselves, and they stay on the file from intake through resolution.

Free case evaluation with an experienced attorney. Contact us today.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Beverly Hills and How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Wrongful death cases in Beverly Hills come from a small set of repeating fact patterns. The most frequent causes we see include the following:

• Motor vehicle accidents: rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, pedestrian strikes, and DUI cases
• Medical malpractice: surgical errors, missed diagnoses, medication mistakes
• Premises liability: slip and fall accidents tied to dangerous property conditions. According to the CDC, unintentional fall deaths among adults 65+ totaled 41,400 in 2023; California’s rate of 40.0/100K is among the 5 lowest states.
• Workplace accidents: third-party negligence outside the workers’ comp system
• Defective products: vehicle defects, medical devices, consumer goods
• Nursing home neglect: pressure ulcers, falls, untreated infections

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of wrongful death, often resulting from distracted driving, speeding, or impaired driving. NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data places motor vehicle crashes among the top causes of preventable death in the United States every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2023, 3,275 fatalities occurred in crashes in the US that were influenced by distractions, with approximately 18% of those deaths involving individuals aged 25 to 34. When a fatal crash happens on Wilshire, Santa Monica Boulevard, or any local artery, a car accident lawyer Beverly Hills families trust often becomes the same attorney handling the wrongful death claim that follows.

Premises liability incidents (slip and fall accidents on hazardous conditions) can lead to wrongful death claims when a property owner fails to keep walking surfaces safe, lighting adequate, or stair railings sound. Liability turns on what the defendant owed the visitor and how the defendant failed that duty. Fatalities in the workplace, defective product incidents, and deaths due to neglect in nursing homes each require distinct evidence approaches. The core question stays the same in every one: did the negligent parties breach a duty owed to the decedent, and did that breach cause the fatal injuries?

The connection between a car accident lawyer in Beverly Hills and wrongful death cases is rooted in thorough evidence collection. This includes gathering accident reports, obtaining witness statements, analyzing traffic laws, and preserving the accident scene. Our Beverly Hills wrongful death team uses that overlap to build wrongful death cases from auto crashes quickly, before evidence deteriorates. The same applies to a third-party intentional act case, where prompt evidence work often decides whether a personal injury claim can also support a wrongful death action.

Lost a loved one in a Beverly Hills accident? Call us today.

What to Expect When Working with a Beverly Hills Wrongful Death Lawyer

The wrongful death claim process in California begins with a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death. Our team gathers substantial evidence, including accident reports, police reports, witness statements, medical records, the autopsy report if one was conducted, and the death certificate. Families should obtain a death certificate early. Multiple certified copies are needed for insurance claims, probate proceedings, and legal filings.

The autopsy report establishes the cause of death and often serves as critical evidence. We also preserve evidence from the scene: photographs of the location, communications with witnesses, and any physical items tied to the incident. Evidence deteriorates over time, so early action matters. Document the scene if possible; photographs of the location can be important for establishing the liable party. Gather medical records from every healthcare provider who treated your loved one, as prior medical history may be relevant in wrongful death cases.

Once you establish a solid foundation for the claim, you file a formal complaint in the appropriate court, officially initiating the wrongful death lawsuit. The discovery phase begins next. Both sides exchange information through document requests, written questions, and depositions. That exchange often surfaces additional evidence that strengthens the case.

Most wrongful death cases resolve through negotiated settlements. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, the case may proceed to trial, where evidence is presented to a jury. Contingency fee arrangements in wrongful death cases let clients pay no upfront costs, with lawyers only receiving payment upon securing a settlement or court award.

The table below outlines the typical phases of a wrongful death case in Beverly Hills and the timelines families can realistically expect. Every case is different. Complex legal procedures, medical malpractice MICRA notice requirements, government tort claims, and multi-defendant fact patterns can shift these ranges. Use the table as a planning baseline, not a guarantee.

Each step builds on the last. Skipping investigation to file fast usually weakens the case. Filing late forfeits everything. Our role is to move each phase at the right pace for the family’s case, push for a fair recovery, and help the family recover the compensation available under California law.

Free consultation: if you or a loved one needs an attorney specializing in wrongful death, call us to schedule a free case consultation, and we’ll guide you through the process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Beverly Hills

Our team answers the same questions from grieving families every week. The answers below reflect what 30 years of California wrongful death and personal injury practice has taught us about how these claims actually move. They are general information for seeking justice after a loss, not legal advice for any specific matter.

Settlements vary enormously based on the deceased's age, earning capacity, family circumstances, and the strength of the liability evidence. Bureau of Justice Statistics data from federal tort trials reported plaintiff verdicts in wrongful death cases averaging around $1.78 million, with a median near $1.0 million in 2005 trial data, the most recent broad federal data set. Treat those figures cautiously. They reflect tried cases, not the broader pool of settled cases, and they do not predict any specific outcome. Most wrongful death cases settle for amounts tied to documented economic damages plus negotiated non-economic damages.

Most California wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, in the 30% to 40% range of the recovery, with no upfront costs. California Business and Professions Code §6147 requires a written contingency agreement signed by the client. No statutory cap exists on the contingency percentage in a straight wrongful death case; the sliding-scale cap under B&P §6146 applies only to medical malpractice matters.

Don't tell us a story that isn't true. The bigger mistake families make is silence. If you withhold something the carrier finds in discovery, the case gets harder. Hold nothing back about the deceased's lifestyle, prior injuries, or financial situation; the defense will surface those facts and weaponize the surprise. Avoid speculating about the cause of death without a medical basis.

Generally, two years from the date of death under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Medical malpractice wrongful death claims follow CCP §340.5: three years from the injury or one year from discovery, whichever comes first, within the MICRA framework. Claims against a government entity (a city vehicle, county truck, or public hospital) require a written government tort claim within six months of the incident under Government Code §911.2. Missing the statute of limitations deadline typically bars a wrongful death claim entirely.

Legal Disclaimer

The information on this page is provided by Etehad Law for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not predict or guarantee a similar outcome in any future case; every wrongful death case is different and depends on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law. This page may be considered attorney advertising under California Rules of Professional Conduct 7.1 and California Business and Professions Code §6157.2.