Compassionate Wrongful Death Lawyers Serving Burbank, CA
Losing a loved one can leave your family facing painful questions as well as immediate financial concerns. When another party’s wrongful act or negligence causes a death, California law allows eligible family members to pursue a wrongful death claim. Our Burbank wrongful death lawyers investigate what happened, explain who may bring the claim, and document the support your family has lost. If we accept your case, our firm opens the insurance claim and handles the insurer’s communications.
If your family is facing the unimaginable, call Noravian Law Firm today at 818-548-8000 for a free consultation. We are here to help you through every step of this difficult journey.
Understanding What Constitutes a Wrongful Death
A wrongful death occurs when a person’s life is taken due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another party. Unlike criminal proceedings that seek punishment, wrongful death lawsuits are civil actions that pursue financial compensation for the surviving family members.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Burbank handle cases arising from many different circumstances, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles or bicycles
- Pedestrian accidents caused by negligent drivers
- Fatal workplace accidents involving unsafe conditions or a responsible third party
- Fatal incidents involving negligent security on unsafe property
- Distracted or drunk driving leading to fatal crashes
- Dangerous property conditions causing fatal falls
If you believe your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s actions, we encourage you to reach out to Noravian Law Firm for a thorough case review.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
California law limits who can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies the eligible people, including:
- The surviving spouse or registered domestic partner of the deceased
- The deceased person’s surviving children
- Children of a deceased child of the person who died
- If there are no surviving descendants, people entitled to inherit under California’s intestate succession laws
The statute also covers certain dependents and qualifying minors under specific conditions. Financial dependence alone does not make every relative, partner or friend eligible. We review your family relationships, any dependency evidence and all potential claimants together, so the claim is brought by the proper people.
Call 818-548-8000 to learn more about how we can assist your family.
Damages Available in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
While no amount of money can truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, financial recovery can ease the burdens placed on surviving family members. In California, wrongful death damages may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of the deceased’s expected financial contributions
- Loss of companionship, comfort, care and assistance
- Loss of guidance, training, and nurturing
- Value of household services provided by the deceased
- Loss of gifts or benefits the family reasonably expected to receive
California distinguishes the loss of a loved one’s companionship and support from grief itself. Telling us about the daily care, guidance and help your loved one provided shows what your family actually lost. We use family accounts, earnings information and household responsibilities to explain those losses under the wrongful death damages instruction.
Losses your loved one suffered before passing, such as medical bills, are handled through a separate claim brought by the estate. That claim can involve a different family member than the wrongful death claim. We review both together.
How Noravian Law Firm Supports Families in Wrongful Death Cases
When families come to us for help, we recognize the profound trust they are placing in our firm during one of the hardest periods of their lives. Our approach is personalized and respectful, with legal and insurance tasks handled by our team.
We provide:
- Detailed investigations into the cause of death and the parties responsible
- Collaboration with forensic experts, accident reconstructionists, and medical professionals
- Opening the insurance claim, requesting records and handling settlement discussions
- Thorough preparation for trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
- Ongoing communication so you always know the status of your case
We explain what we have learned and what still needs investigation. You can bring the documents already available to your family; our team requests additional reports, footage, medical records and other evidence needed for the case.
Steps to Take If You Suspect a Wrongful Death
If you believe your loved one’s death could have been prevented, it is important to act quickly. Key steps include:
- Keep records already available to you, including photographs, bills, reports and witness contact information
- Refer insurance requests to our firm so we can handle communications and explain any cooperation requirements
- Keep funeral receipts and note the financial support, household tasks and daily help your loved one provided
- Contact an experienced Burbank wrongful death lawyer at Noravian Law Firm by calling 818-548-8000
Taking early action helps ensure that evidence is preserved and critical deadlines are met.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims in California
Many wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the death. A case involving a public entity may require a government claim first, generally within six months after the claim accrues, followed by a separate lawsuit deadline. Exceptions depend on the facts. Rules that pause some deadlines for minors do not automatically extend the government-claim deadline. Contact us promptly so we can identify the applicable deadlines.
Noravian Law Firm can help you understand the applicable timelines and ensure your case is filed properly and on time.
Wrongful Death Claims Involving Burbank Families
Burbank families may need answers after an incident on a freeway, a neighborhood street or a commercial property. Caltrans’ Burbank I-5 project materials identify I-5 connections with SR-134 and local ramps, including Empire Avenue/San Fernando Boulevard. The City also documents the East Olive Avenue corridor. For a fatal collision, we identify the exact location, roadway configuration at the time, involved vehicles and available records; a street name alone does not establish fault.
Your family does not have to determine which report or insurance policy controls the case. Our firm identifies the investigating agencies, requests available reports and footage, and reviews potential coverage. We also examine whether a driver was working, whether another party controlled an unsafe property, and whether multiple people or businesses contributed to the death.
Unique Challenges in Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death claims often involve complex issues that require careful navigation. These include:
- Proving the defendant’s negligence or wrongdoing caused the death
- Determining the proper value of financial and non-economic losses
- Handling multiple claimants or disputes among surviving relatives
- Resolving disputes over fault, insurance coverage and the evidence of family losses
The time required may depend on pending investigative reports, identifying all eligible family members, calculating future financial support, and resolving liability or coverage disputes. We explain what is still unresolved, so your family is never asked to accept a settlement you do not understand.
Why Choose Noravian Law Firm for Your Burbank Wrongful Death Case?
At Noravian Law Firm, we are proud to serve grieving families across Burbank and Los Angeles County. When you choose our firm, you can expect:
- Compassionate legal service with a personal touch
- Careful documentation of your family’s financial and personal losses
- Handling insurance communications and requests for evidence
- Consultation with appropriate experts when the facts require it
- Clear, honest communication every step of the way
We understand that this is more than just a case. It is about honoring the life of your loved one and securing a stable future for those left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
A claim may arise from a fatal vehicle or pedestrian collision, an unsafe-property incident, or a workplace event involving a responsible third party. A negligent-security claim requires facts connecting inadequate precautions to a foreseeable fatal incident; the occurrence of a crime alone does not establish a property owner's liability. Our firm reviews the cause of death, potential defendants and your family's eligibility before explaining the available claim.
Eligible family members generally pursue a single wrongful death action, but their individual losses may differ. The division is not automatically equal. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.61 gives the court authority to determine each claimant's rights in an award; a settlement also requires careful attention to the eligible claimants and any required approvals. We explain the process and identify disagreements early.
A civil wrongful death claim can be pursued even if there is a related criminal investigation or prosecution. A criminal conviction is not a requirement, and the standards of proof differ. The proceedings may affect evidence access and timing, so our firm reviews them together while tracking the civil deadlines. Do not assume that waiting for a criminal case to finish preserves the family's civil claim.
Shared fault does not automatically prevent a wrongful death recovery. Under California's comparative-fault instruction for a person who died, an established share of responsibility can reduce the damages. For example, $500,000 in proven damages reduced by 20% fault would become $400,000. This illustrates the calculation and is not an estimate of your case. Our firm examines the evidence supporting any allegation of fault.
Wrongful Death Claims and Burbank’s Entertainment Industry Workforce
Burbank’s Media District includes workplaces connected to the entertainment industry. A fatal incident involving a production worker, contractor or driver can require review of employment records, work assignments and the businesses responsible for the activity. A job title such as freelancer or temporary crew member does not, by itself, decide the available legal remedies.
California’s workers’ compensation exclusivity rule generally limits civil claims against an employer when the rule applies, subject to exceptions. A separate claim against a responsible third party may still be possible. We examine the actual relationships among a worker, employer, outside contractor, driver and property controller before identifying potential defendants.
If a fatal incident occurs during travel between a workplace and a public road, we review where the event occurred and what the person was doing. On I-5, SR-134, Olive Avenue or San Fernando Boulevard, the relevant questions may include a vehicle’s route, the driver’s work assignment and available recordings. We do not ask your family to contact employers, agencies or insurers to investigate those issues.
If your loved one died in connection with Burbank’s entertainment or production industry, we can review the workplace and civil-claim issues together and explain which records we need to request. You can focus on your family while we handle the legal investigation.
Nearby Areas We Also Serve
In addition to Burbank, our attorneys represent families in nearby communities including Glendale, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Don’t see your city? Call us anyway at 818-548-8000 — we may be able to help regardless of where the accident occurred in California.
Contact Our Burbank Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct, Noravian Law Firm is here to stand by your side. Our Burbank wrongful death lawyers are ready to guide your family through the legal process with compassion and strength.
Call 818-548-8000 now to schedule your free consultation. Let us help you seek justice for your loved one.
Accepted cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis: attorney fees are owed only if we recover compensation. Case costs are separate, and the written agreement explains how both fees and costs are handled.
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