To a loved one, any death can seem wrongful. Some wrongful deaths are criminal in nature, such as homicide or manslaughter. Others are accidental, caused by a negligent driver.
Because California law acknowledges the criminal nature of some unnatural deaths, the California Penal Code punishes certain offenders. The families of homicide victims, for example, may participate in the criminal justice process. This can give loved ones a sense of closure not otherwise available to families who’ve suffered an unnatural, accidental loss. A fall down slippery stairs, a construction accident, or a vehicle malfunction can result in the devastating, unnatural loss of a loved one that’s not punishable as a criminal offense.
However, families who’ve suffered from the wrongful loss of a loved one in Riverside, California, can pursue civil recompense.
The nationally renowned Riverside wrongful death attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler may be able to help. Through a civil action for wrongful death, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your loss from any party whose negligent, reckless, or intentional wrongdoings caused the death of your loved one.
In California, under the wrongful death statute, certain persons are entitled to assert “[a civil] cause of action for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.”
Only the legal, personal representative of the decedent and/or one of the following parties (under appropriate circumstances) can bring an action for wrongful death in California:
While friends, non-registered partners, and distant relatives may participate in the litigation process as witnesses or advocates, unless receiving substantial financial support, they may not bring an action for wrongful death in California. However, close family members can, and should, speak with a respected wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that unintentional injury deaths are the third-leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease and cancer. Such catastrophic injuries are the leading cause of death for all persons between the ages of 1 and 44. Unintentional injury deaths, such as those caused by falls, motor vehicle crashes, sports-related accidents, poisoning, product malfunction, or physical violence, often lead to wrongful death cases.
At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, we’ve handled some of the nation’s most horrific wrongful death cases. We even obtained $4.9 billion in compensation, the largest individual products liability verdict in history, for clients catastrophically injured or killed by defective motor vehicle gas tanks. The following cases are only some examples of the compensation we’ve recovered for families suffering from the untimely loss of a loved one:
Few parties responsible for a wrongful death are ready to accept blame. Liable parties will often try to shift blame to the decedent. They may do this to avoid liability, such as claiming the decedent was the negligent driver, or to reduce any damages owed.
For example, in Hernandez v. County of Los Angeles, Mr. Hernandez’s vehicle was disabled on the freeway when a Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputy struck and killed him, leaving his two-year-old daughter without a father. We brought an action for wrongful death on her behalf. During litigation, the County of Los Angeles attempted to blame Mr. Hernandez for his own death by citing his past, unrelated use of marijuana. They further tried to avoid liability by claiming his daughter wasn’t owed appropriate compensation because he wasn’t living with her at the time. Instead, the jury found that Mr. Hernandez had no liability for the accident and entered a $3 million verdict for his daughter.
Whether the death of your loved one was immediate or they later died from injuries sustained in an accident, California’s nationally renowned wrongful death attorneys at Greene, Broillet & Wheeler are here to offer legal help. We handle the following types of wrongful death cases:
Every wrongful death case is unique, and the characteristics of the victim often play a role in wrongful death litigation. For example, a product marketed to young children may require a higher standard of care not otherwise applicable to adult products.
Families entitled to compensation after the wrongful death of a loved one may recover economic and/or non-economic damages. Economic (compensatory) damages are incurred as a result of a wrongful death. Examples of economic damages include:
Examples of non-economic damages include:
Punitive damages may be imposed to punish the liable party for particularly reckless or egregious behaviors, including:
For example, a car company that knows its gas tanks or tires are dangerous but doesn’t warn consumers may have to pay punitive damages.
Our top-rated Riverside wrongful death attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler know that no amount of compensation can bring back your loved one. Every wrongful death case is unique, but some claimants may be entitled to compensation from persons or entities who negligently, reckless, or intentionally contributed to the unnatural death of your loved one. Our wrongful death consultations are completely free, and we may be able to assist you with no upfront or direct, out-of-pocket costs.
Contact a Riverside lawyer near you:
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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