Compassionate Wrongful Death Lawyers in Glendale, CA
Losing a loved one is one of the most painful experiences anyone can face, especially when the death was preventable. Alongside your grief, you may be dealing with funeral expenses, the loss of household income and questions about what happened. At Noravian Law Firm, our Glendale wrongful death lawyers help families seek answers, understand their rights and pursue compensation from those responsible.
Call Noravian Law Firm at 818-548-8000 for a free consultation. We can listen to your concerns, explain the options available to your family and help you decide what to do next.
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. A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil case in which eligible surviving family members seek financial compensation for their losses. It is separate from a criminal case, which addresses punishment for a crime.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Glendale 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
A death at work may involve workers’ compensation benefits. Those benefits are generally the family’s remedy against the employer, with limited exceptions. A separate civil claim may be possible against another responsible party, such as a negligent driver. We can review what happened and explain which options may apply to your family.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
California law limits who can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Those who may be eligible include:
- The surviving spouse or registered domestic partner of the deceased
- The deceased person’s surviving children
- Grandchildren whose parent, the deceased person’s child, has also died
- If there are no surviving descendants, other people entitled to inherit under California’s intestate succession laws
Some parents, stepchildren and other people listed in California’s wrongful death statute may also qualify if they meet its dependency or other requirements. We can explain how those requirements apply to your family and identify who should participate in the claim.
Bring the names and relationships of all surviving family members, including children from earlier relationships. Being named in a will does not by itself establish a wrongful death claim; eligibility follows the statute above. Identifying everyone at the beginning helps avoid leaving an eligible relative out of the case.
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 make up for the loss of a loved one, financial compensation 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, and emotional support
- Loss of guidance, training, and nurturing
- Value of household services provided by the deceased
- Loss of gifts or other benefits the family reasonably expected to receive
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.
For the family’s damages, California distinguishes the loss of 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.
How Noravian Law Firm Supports Families in Wrongful Death Cases
When families come to us for help, we recognize the trust they place in our firm during a deeply difficult time. We take time to listen, explain the legal choices in clear terms and guide the case with care and determination.
We provide:
- Detailed investigations into the cause of death and the parties responsible
- Collaboration with forensic experts, accident reconstructionists, and medical professionals
- Negotiation supported by evidence of responsibility and the losses your family has suffered
- Thorough preparation for trial if a fair settlement is not offered
- Ongoing communication so you always know the status of your case
Our role is to handle the investigation and legal process while keeping your family informed and involved in the decisions that affect the case.
Steps to Take If You Suspect a Wrongful Death
You do not need to have every answer before speaking with a lawyer. If you believe your loved one’s death could have been prevented, these steps can help protect information and clarify your options:
- Keep any evidence you already have, including copies of medical records, police reports and witness contact information
- Ask for advice before giving an opposing insurer a recorded statement or signing a release; do not ignore notices that require a response
- Keep records of funeral expenses, lost financial support, household help and other ways your loved one supported the family
- Contact an experienced Glendale wrongful death lawyer at Noravian Law Firm by calling 818-548-8000
Our team can request the records needed for the claim and check the deadlines, so your family has a clearer path forward.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims in California
Many negligence-based wrongful death lawsuits have a two-year filing period, but the claim’s facts and legal basis can change the deadline. A claim involving a public entity may require a separate claim presentation within six months. A child’s age may affect some deadlines under California’s tolling law, but does not suspend government claim requirements. Ask us to check each family member’s dates rather than waiting for every investigation to end.
We can explain which deadlines apply and help your family prepare the information needed to move the case forward.
Wrongful Death Claims Involving Glendale Families
For a family living in Glendale, a fatal accident may involve a commute on I-5, SR 134 or the 2, or a trip along Brand Boulevard, Glendale Avenue or San Fernando Road. Other cases may involve a workplace or property elsewhere in Los Angeles County. Gathering answers can require records and witnesses from several places. A fatal truck collision may call for commercial-vehicle records, while a death involving an unsafe building may require a property-condition investigation. We coordinate that work to understand what happened and who may be responsible.
If Glendale Police investigated the death, keep that incident number along with any Los Angeles County Medical Examiner case number. The Medical Examiner explains which records it provides: its report may include autopsy and toxicology findings, while police reports and medical records must be requested separately from the agencies and providers that hold them. Give us copies of the letters you receive so the investigation can follow each source of information.
Our work also includes learning about the person your family lost and the place they held in your home. Regular income, household tasks, caregiving and personal guidance all help explain that relationship. We listen to how your daily life has changed and gather the records needed to show the support your family has lost, even when your loved one did not earn a paycheck.
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
- Fighting back against insurance companies and defense teams who try to deny or minimize claims
We help your family work through these questions, explain any disagreements and prepare the evidence needed to pursue the claim. You can ask us to clarify what a decision means before taking the next step.
The time a case takes can depend on unresolved findings about the cause of death, locating insurance, documenting future support and resolving disagreements among relatives. If the insurer disputes responsibility or the value of the losses, a lawsuit may be needed. 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 Glendale Wrongful Death Case?
At Noravian Law Firm, we are proud to serve grieving families across Glendale and Los Angeles County. When you choose our firm, you can expect:
- Compassionate legal service with a personal touch
- Careful documentation of lost support, companionship and household contributions
- Attention to the different claims and interests of surviving family members
- Appropriate expert analysis when the cause of death or future losses require it
- Clear, honest communication every step of the way
Your loved one’s place in your family cannot be reduced to a number. We take time to understand the relationship, the support they provided and what your family now needs to manage life after the loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrongful death claims can arise from fatal motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, workplace accidents involving unsafe conditions or a responsible third party, negligent security on unsafe property, and dangerous property conditions causing fatal falls. If someone else’s negligence caused your loved one’s death, Noravian Law Firm can review what happened and explain your family’s options.
The eligible family members and the losses each person suffered help determine how compensation is divided. There is no automatic equal split or fixed percentage for each relationship. California law gives the court authority to determine rights in an award. We can explain the process and address questions about each family member’s share early in the case.
Yes, you can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit even if a criminal case is underway or if the defendant was not convicted. Civil wrongful death claims are separate and have a lower burden of proof. Noravian Law Firm can handle the civil case while coordinating with any related criminal proceedings.
Potentially. The other party must prove that your loved one was negligent and that the negligence contributed to the death. Under California’s comparative-fault instruction for wrongful death, proven responsibility reduces the damages by that share; an insurer’s allegation alone does not establish it. We examine the records and witness accounts before accepting an assignment of blame.
Serving Glendale and Nearby Communities
Noravian Law Firm also assists families with wrongful death claims in nearby communities, including Burbank and Pasadena. If your loved one lived or the incident happened outside Glendale, we can discuss how we may be able to help.
Contact Our Glendale Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
If you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct, our Glendale wrongful death lawyers can help you understand your family’s options. We can discuss what happened, who may bring a claim and how the loss has affected your household.
Call Noravian Law Firm at 818-548-8000 to schedule a free, confidential consultation. We are here to listen and help you take the next step when you are ready to talk.
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.
¿Prefiere leer esta información en español? Visite nuestra página de Abogados de Muerte por Negligencia en Glendale. También puede comunicarse con nuestro personal de habla hispana.