Beverly Hills Wrongful Death Attorneys

What Is Considered “Wrongful Death” in Beverly Hills?

In legal terms, “wrongful death” is defined as a death that has been caused by the wrongful act, negligence, or recklessness of another person or entity. A “wrongful death claim” is a type of civil lawsuit designed to compensate family members or dependents for the loss of a loved one. The main premise behind a wrongful death claim is that the death could have been avoided if not for the negligent or intentional actions of another party. Our Beverly Hills wrongful death attorneys can evaluate your situation and walk you through your rights and legal options.

Wrongful death claims can arise from a variety of circumstances, including (but not limited to):

• Vehicular accidents. The negligence or reckless behavior of drivers can lead to fatal accidents involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, and pedestrians. Examples of negligent or reckless behaviors include speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and failing to adhere to traffic laws. Motorcyclists and pedestrians especially face increased risk of catastrophic injury or death due to their vulnerability on the road. 
• Premises liability accidents. This area of law covers accidents caused by unsafe or defective conditions on someone's property. Property owners and operators have a legal responsibility to maintain a reasonably safe environment for visitors. This duty includes promptly fixing known hazards or, at the very least, adequately warning visitors about potential dangers. When these obligations are not met, the result can be fatal accidents, including slips and falls, inadequate security leading to assault or injury, drownings in pools lacking proper safety measures, or accidents caused by structural failures. In such cases, if it can be proven that the property owner was aware of the hazardous condition and did not take appropriate action to correct it, or if the hazard was something the owner should have known about through proper maintenance, they can be held liable for wrongful death.
• Medical malpractice. Wrongful death can result from a healthcare provider deviating from the standard of care expected in their profession. This deviation can occur in various forms, including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, improper medication or dosage, and failure to monitor the patient's condition or respond to treatment complications. A wrongful death claim arising from medical malpractice requires proving that the healthcare provider's negligence directly led to the patient's untimely death. This involves demonstrating that the care provided fell below the accepted medical standard and directly caused harm that otherwise would not have occurred. The complexity of these cases often requires expert testimony to establish what the medical standard of care is, how it was breached, and how this breach resulted in death.
• Defective products. A product is considered defective if it fails to perform safely when used as intended or when the potential risks of use are not adequately communicated to the consumer. These defects could be the result of errors in the design process, errors in the manufacturing process, or a failure to provide clear and sufficient warnings or instructions. This issue spans a wide range of consumer goods, including automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, children’s toys, and household appliances. When these defective products malfunction, they can inflict harm or even death upon the user. For example, an automotive defect such as faulty airbags or seatbelts can lead to fatal outcomes in the event of a collision. Similarly, pharmaceuticals with undisclosed severe side effects can cause death, which could have been prevented with proper warnings. Toys with small, detachable parts may pose choking hazards to children, and poorly designed appliances could lead to electrocution or fires. In wrongful death cases involving defective products, it must be proven that the product was defective and that this defect directly led to the individual's death. These cases often require an analysis by experts in the field of the defective product to demonstrate how the product failed and why it was dangerous.

What Damages Can My Family Recover in a Beverly Hills Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Nothing can truly compensate for the loss of your loved one, but you and your family deserve financial relief in the wake of an avoidable tragedy. To secure compensation, a qualifying party must file the wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the date the deceased passed away. You will be unable to recover any damages if you miss this deadline, so do not wait to reach out to one of our legal professionals.

Our Beverly Hills wrongful death lawyers can fight to recover maximum compensation for all losses permitted under the law, including: