If you have lost a family member in or around Glendale as the result of someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior and you are seeking justice, contact an experienced Glendale wrongful death lawyer. Wrongful death cases require sensitivity, rigorous research, and diligent preparation to ensure maximum compensation is pursued. To obtain justice and to discourage the responsible parties from putting anyone else in danger, depend on a Southern California legal team with experience in wrongful death cases.
A wrongful death claim under California law gives surviving relatives a legal avenue to pursue compensation for the decedent’s death while holding the responsible party accountable. These claims address both the financial devastation and the emotional toll that follows a preventable death. We recognize that no amount of money replaces a loved one; but we also believe accountability matters. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, we bring over five decades of courtroom experience to wrongful death litigation, combining strategic precision with unwavering advocacy for families navigating an unimaginable loss.
Wrongful death litigation requires preparation, credibility, and readiness for trial from day one. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, we approach every wrongful death claim with the expectation of a courtroom trial rather than a quick settlement. This strategy shapes how evidence is discovered and analyzed, how liability gets framed, and how insurers evaluate exposure long before negotiations begin.
More than five decades of courtroom advocacy informs every decision we make. Early investigation, accident reconstruction, medical causation analysis, and damage evaluation begin immediately. This disciplined approach preserves critical evidence and positions claims for accountability rather than compromise driven by convenience. Insurance carriers respond differently when facing a firm known for litigation readiness rather than settlement shortcuts.
Our wrongful death litigation record reflects this preparation. Some significant results from past cases include:
While past outcomes do not guarantee similar results, each recovery reflects consistent trial preparation rather than isolated success. This approach has earned recognition from courts and peers through distinctions such as Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, honors grounded in peer evaluation and professional achievement.
That same commitment to preparation extends directly to how we work with clients. Families benefit from direct access to the legal team and clear communication throughout the process. Early preparation strengthens leverage, supports informed decision-making, and promotes accountability in every aspect of the legal process. Families seeking guidance from a Glendale wrongful death lawyer deserve representation built on structure, experience, and readiness from the outset.
A Glendale wrongful death lawyer reviews whether a fatal incident resulted from another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct under California law. These claims focus on preventable harm rather than criminal punishment.
Several types of incidents frequently give rise to wrongful death claims:
Civil wrongful death claims differ from criminal cases in both purpose and outcome. Criminal proceedings focus on enforcing state law and imposing penalties, while civil actions provide surviving family members a legal avenue to address financial losses and the lasting consequences of losing a loved one. A civil claim centers on securing accountability and compensation rather than delivering punishment.
Establishing liability in a wrongful death case depends on clear supporting evidence. The claim must demonstrate negligent or wrongful conduct, a direct causal link between that conduct and the death, and measurable damages suffered by eligible relatives under California law.
California law limits who may file a wrongful death claim based on the claimant’s legal relationship with the deceased. The California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 defines eligibility and establishes which surviving relatives may pursue civil recovery after a fatal incident.
The following parties may qualify to bring a wrongful death claim:
Cases involving blended families, shared financial dependence, or multiple surviving relatives require careful analysis. A Glendale wrongful death lawyer evaluates family relationships, financial reliance, and statutory requirements to confirm standing and protect each eligible claimant’s interests.
Wrongful death compensation focuses on how a fatal loss alters the lives of surviving family members. California law permits recovery tied to the financial and personal impact caused by the death.
Financial consequences often surface quickly and continue long after the loss. Economic damages may account for funeral and burial expenses, the income and financial support the deceased would have provided, and the value of household services lost as a result of the death. Courts rely on employment records, earning capacity, life expectancy, and economic analysis to measure these losses accurately.
Beyond financial harm, the absence of a loved one creates lasting personal consequences. Non-economic damages recognize losses involving companionship, guidance, care, affection, comfort, and moral support. California law treats these human losses as compensable, even without a fixed dollar value.
Presenting these losses clearly requires careful documentation and a structured legal approach. Greene Broillet & Wheeler applies this framework to demonstrate the full scope of harm suffered by surviving family members and to pursue recovery aligned with wrongful death law in California.
Available 24/7
California law places a firm time limit on wrongful death claims. In most situations, families have two years from the date of death to begin legal action, as provided by California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. However, certain circumstances affect how this deadline applies. Claims involving public entities often require earlier notice, which can shorten the effective filing period. In limited situations, the timeline may extend when the cause of death could not reasonably have been discovered right away. Once the applicable deadline passes, courts generally bar the claim regardless of its merits.
Because these timing rules shape whether a claim moves forward at all, a Glendale wrongful death lawyer reviews deadlines early to protect legal rights and avoid procedural barriers that could prevent recovery.
Pursuing a wrongful death claim involves more than meeting legal deadlines or submitting forms. The process often requires evidence preservation, legal analysis, and coordination with insurers and third parties. Legal representation helps families navigate these demands while reducing additional strain during an already difficult time.
Working with a Glendale wrongful death lawyer offers several practical advantages, including:
Representation also helps balance the legal process. Insurance carriers and corporate defendants rely on legal teams focused on limiting financial exposure. A wrongful death lawyer responds through preparation, strategic planning, and informed negotiation.
For many families, legal advocacy serves a broader purpose beyond compensation. Civil claims can bring attention to unsafe practices, negligent conduct, and systemic failures while allowing families to focus on healing alongside the legal process.
Families facing wrongful loss often need more than legal answers. They need someone to step in, take control of the process, and protect their interests while they focus on their family. Our Glendale wrongful death lawyers can investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, preserve critical evidence, coordinate with medical and financial professionals, and manage insurance and legal pressure from the start. For a free consultation, call 866-634-4525 to speak with Greene Broillet & Wheeler about how experienced legal advocacy can support your family during this difficult time.
Areas We Serve
Riverside, Oxnard, Santa Monica, San Bernardino, Huntington beach, Lancaster
Contact a Glendale Lawyer near you:
Browne Greene is a legendary California trial lawyer and senior partner whose career has set national standards for plaintiff advocacy. He has tried and won more million-dollar jury verdicts than any attorney in California history, including numerous seven- and eight-figure results across personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. Consistently recognized among The Best Lawyers in America since 1987, Browne is a former Trial Lawyer of the Year and a long-standing Super Lawyer, widely respected for his leadership, courtroom excellence, and lifelong service to the legal profession.
Named in Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP ranks as Tier 1 Personal Injury Litigation- Plaintiffs in Los Angeles.
Many firm members have been honored by the Consumer Attorneys of California, including Browne Greene, Christine Spagnoli, and Bruce Broillet, recipients of the Marvin E. Lewis Award. In addition, attorneys Bruce Broillet, Scott Carr, Molly McKibben, and Tobin Lanzetta has been honored with the Consumer Attorney of the Year Award.
All of our attorneys are proud to be active members of the Los Angeles County Bar Association or LACBA.
Our attorneys were featured in TopVerdict for having one of the Top 10 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California in 2019, with $15 million won for the plaintiff in Keck v. Bel-Air Bay Club.
Partners Geoff Wells and Ivan Puchalt were both named among the 2025 Consumer Attorney Visionaries by LA Times Studios.
Several partners are active members in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, with attorneys Browne Greene, Bruce Broillet, and Christine Spagnoli named “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”
Firm partners Christine D. Spagnoli and Molly McKibben have both been honored by the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and are active members.
After winning $2.6 million for the plaintiff’s side in a head-on collision case, our victory was named in the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2019 by TopVerdict.
Several of our partners are members in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national invite-only association consisting of the most experienced trial lawyers.
Our team includes several Fellows and Associates with the invite-only International Society of Barristers in recognition of their trial advocacy.
Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, was featured by TopVerdict in the Top 100 Settlements across all practice areas in California for 2019.
Bruce A. Broillet and Christine D. Spagnoli are Fellows with the invite-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a group of elite trial lawyers from over 30 countries.
Recipients of this recognition are held up to the same standards as for The Best Lawyers in America, but only legal professionals in the first ten years of their careers qualify. Four attorneys at GBW have been recognized with this award in 2021.
Founding partners Browne Greene and Bruce A. Broillet are both members of the exclusive invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates, as two of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in America.
Our firm has more attorneys on the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists than any other law firm in Southern California, with 15 members selected.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partiner, Tim J. Wheeler who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
Call us at 866-634-4525 
