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Wrongful Death At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, our seasoned team of professionals have over 100 years of combined legal experience handling complex legal matters.

Santa Monica Wrongful Death Attorney

Helping You Through This Difficult Time - Wrongful Death Claims

Losing a loved one is a devastating experience, especially when their death was caused by someone else's negligence or wrongful actions. If you have lost a family member due to the reckless behavior of another party, you may be entitled to seek justice and compensation for your losses.

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we understand the emotional and financial toll that wrongful death can have on your life. Our compassionate team of Santa Monica wrongful death lawyers is here to provide you with the dedicated legal support you need during these difficult times.

Call our office today at (866) 634-4525 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

What is a Wrongful Death?

In all states, the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult life events a person can go through. When a death is caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or entity, the loss can be even more devastating. In California, a person can bring a claim against a wrongdoer if their loved one died as a result of a "wrongful death."

Under California law, a wrongful death occurs when:

  • A person is killed due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or entity
  • The deceased person is survived by a spouse, child, or dependent parent
  • The deceased person had a cause of action against the person or entity that caused their death

In other words, a wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or entity, and their death causes financial harm to a surviving family member, such as a spouse, child, or dependent parent.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?

In California, a surviving family member can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person's estate. The surviving family member's role in a wrongful death lawsuit is to represent the interests of the deceased person's estate. In a wrongful death lawsuit, the family members do not seek to recover damages for their own losses; they seek to recover damages for the estate's losses.

Generally, the following individuals are eligible to file a wrongful death claim:

  • The surviving spouse or domestic partner of the deceased.
  • Surviving children of the deceased (including adopted children).
  • If there is no surviving spouse or children, other dependents who were financially dependent on the deceased person.
  • If none of the above exists, other individuals who may be entitled to the deceased person's property under California's intestate succession laws.

Damages in a California Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In a California wrongful death lawsuit, the family members of the deceased person's estate can seek to recover compensation for all of the damages they have suffered as a result of the death of their loved one. In a successful wrongful death lawsuit, the jury will award damages to the estate's representatives for all of the losses they have suffered.

These damages may include:

  • Economic damages: These cover financial losses resulting from the death, such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost wages, and loss of future income.
  • Non-economic damages: These compensate for intangible losses like pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and emotional distress caused by the death of the loved one.
  • Punitive Damages: In cases involving gross negligence or intentional harm, the court may award punitive damages to punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior in the future.

Why Hire our Santa Monica Wrongful Death Lawyer?

A wrongful death lawsuit can be an extremely complex case to bring. The defendant will likely have insurance coverage that will hire an attorney to defend the case. In addition to the defendant's attorney, the deceased person's family may also have to hire an attorney to ensure the estate's interests are protected.

At Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, our Santa Monica wrongful death attorneys have the experience and know-how to represent the interests of the deceased person's family in a wrongful death lawsuit. We have the resources and the knowledge necessary to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Greene Broillet & Wheeler today to schedule a free consultation with our Santa Monica wrongful death lawyer. Let us help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve during this challenging time.

Helping Our Clients Tell Their Story & Get the Compensation They Deserve

Awards & Associations

  • Best Law Firms by US News
    Named in Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms,” Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP ranks as Tier 1 Personal Injury Litigation- Plaintiffs in Los Angeles.
  • The Inner Circle of Advocates
    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.
  • LACBA
    All of our attorneys are proud to be active members of the Los Angeles County Bar Association or LACBA.
  • Consumer Attorneys of California
    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.
  • Best Lawyers
    All 15 of our attorneys have been selected to Best Lawyers® after an extensive peer review process.
  • Top 10 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California in 2019
    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.
  • Super Lawyers®
    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.
  • CAALA
    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."
  • WLALA
    Firm partners Christine D. Spagnoli and Molly McKibben have both been honored by the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and are active members.
  • Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2019
    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.
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
    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.
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    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.
  • Top 100 Settlements in California in 2019
    Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, was featured by TopVerdict in the Top 100 Settlements across all practice areas in California for 2019.
  • International Society of Barristers
    Our team includes several Fellows and Associates with the invite-only International Society of Barristers in recognition of their trial advocacy.
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    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.
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
    A preeminent trial lawyers’ organization in North America, the American College of Trial Lawyers have elected firm partners Bruce Broillet, Mark Quigley, and Geoffrey Wells as Fellows.

Why Choose Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP?

  • We Have Decades of Legal Experience
  • We've Recovered Billions For Our Clients
  • We're Always Available For Our Clients & Offer Free Consultations
  • We've Taken On Some of The Largest Corporations & Insurance Agencies

BILLIONS RECOVERED

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