A wrongful death claim cannot undo the loss a family has suffered. However, a wrongful death claim can hold the responsible party accountable and provide financial stability when income, support, and security are at risk after the death of a loved one. In Long Beach, families navigating this process face complex questions at a time when focusing on legal issues is incredibly challenging. A Long Beach wrongful death lawyer helps establish liability, document the full extent of damages, and pursue compensation under California law with the preparation these cases demand. This may offer hope for the justice and accountability a grieving family deserves.
Wrongful death claims arise when negligence, reckless conduct, or intentional actions cause loss of life. In such cases, liability may not be obvious. Depending on how the fatal incident occurred, multiple parties may share responsibility, making early investigation critical to preserving evidence and identifying every avenue of recovery. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, we build each claim from the ground up, developing a legal strategy focused on full accountability and the compensation families need to move forward.
Selecting legal representation after a wrongful death requires careful consideration. Families need a law firm with the experience to handle complex claims and the ability to pursue accountability in high-stakes litigation. Greene Broillet & Wheeler has built its practice on a long-standing commitment to serious injury and wrongful death cases:
A history of significant results demonstrates the commitment Greene Broillet & Wheeler brings to wrongful death cases:
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome; each case depends on unique facts and circumstances, but we are tenaciously devoted to our clients’ success. Regardless of the complexity or challenges of a case, our Long Beach wrongful death lawyers approach every claim with the same level of preparation and dedication. From the initial investigation and through every stage of the case, we will diligently pursue full accountability through settlement or verdict.
Not every family member holds the automatic right to file a wrongful death claim. California law defines eligibility based on the relationship to the deceased and, in some cases, financial dependency. Understanding who qualifies is an early and essential step in pursuing a claim.
According to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, the following parties may pursue a wrongful death claim:
California law allows a single wrongful death claim to proceed on behalf of all eligible parties, a structure designed to ensure fair distribution of any recovery while avoiding multiple lawsuits arising from the same loss. Determining who qualifies requires careful review of family relationships, financial dependency, and estate considerations. Filing without first confirming eligibility can create complications affecting the case’s outcome. A Long Beach wrongful death lawyer can evaluate these factors and confirm who holds the legal right to file a claim.
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit involves more than submitting paperwork. A successful claim requires evidence, strategic planning, and a clear understanding of liability, all of which depend on early action before critical evidence disappears or becomes more difficult to obtain.
The process generally includes several key steps:
Wrongful death cases often involve multiple layers of liability. A fatal car accident, for example, may implicate a negligent driver, an employer, or a vehicle manufacturer, each requiring independent evaluation and a distinct legal strategy. Our Long Beach wrongful death lawyers at Greene Broillet & Wheeler manage these complexities from the earliest stage, ensuring every potential source of compensation receives careful review and that the case moves forward with the preparation and precision these claims demand.
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Wrongful death claims focus on the financial and personal losses suffered by surviving family members. California law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Economic damages address the measurable financial losses resulting from wrongful death, including:
Calculating economic damages often requires financial experts who project future earnings and contributions based on the deceased’s career, age, life expectancy, and the specific financial circumstances of the surviving family members.
Non-economic damages address the personal losses surviving family members must endure after a wrongful death, including:
Insurance companies often attempt to limit payouts by disputing liability or minimizing the value of claimed losses. Our Long Beach wrongful death lawyers work to present a clear, evidence-backed picture of the full impact of the loss, ensuring every recoverable damage receives proper consideration.
California law establishes strict deadlines for filing wrongful death claims, and missing those deadlines can permanently bar a family from pursuing compensation. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, families generally have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
However, several circumstances may affect how this deadline applies. Claims against government entities require filing a separate government tort claim within six months of the incident before a lawsuit may proceed. When negligence is not immediately apparent, the discovery rule may be triggered, which can alter when the limitations period begins, and claims involving minors may follow a different timeline depending on the specific facts of the case.
Prompt action protects more than just deadlines, because evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and critical records may become more difficult to obtain as time passes. A Long Beach wrongful death lawyer can review the details of a case, identify all applicable deadlines, and ensure the claim moves forward before any legal rights expire.
Families facing the loss of a loved one deserve clear answers and a legal team with the commitment these cases require. Greene Broillet & Wheeler carefully reviews the circumstances of each claim, explains available legal options, and outlines the steps involved in pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit in Long Beach. Speaking with a Long Beach wrongful death lawyer early in the process helps protect critical evidence and ensures families understand their rights before deadlines are missed or critical details are overlooked.
Call 866-634-4525 to schedule a free consultation and speak with our team about pursuing accountability and the full compensation your family deserves.
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.
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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.
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