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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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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