When someone you love dies because another person or company didn’t act with basic care, life can feel split in two: the “before” you, and the “after” you. Families tell us the days that follow are a blur of phone calls, paperwork, and decisions they never asked to make.
In this post, we’re sharing an anonymized client testimonial from a successful Los Angeles wrongful death case to show what the process can look like in real life. Testimonials matter because they help families decide who they can trust, they explain what’s normal (and what isn’t), and they set more realistic expectations than ads ever will.
In plain English, a wrongful death case is a legal claim that can be brought when a death was caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongful act. Every case is different, results vary, and no story matches yours exactly, but you shouldn’t have to walk into this blind.
The client’s testimonial, in their own words (anonymized)
“I didn’t know what I was supposed to do first. I was trying to plan a service, keep my job, and answer questions from family, all while feeling like I couldn’t breathe. Then the calls started. Insurance. People asking for details. People wanting statements. It felt wrong that they were asking me to explain the worst day of my life to a stranger on the phone.
We kept thinking, if we say the wrong thing, will we lose everything? We didn’t even know what ‘everything’ meant yet. We just knew we were scared. We were also angry, because it didn’t feel like an accident that couldn’t be prevented.
When we called your office, the first thing that changed was the silence. Not literal silence, but the pressure turned down. You told us we didn’t have to answer insurance calls. You told us what to save, what to write down, and what not to sign. It was the first time someone spoke to us like people, not a file.
After that, you handled the parts we couldn’t handle. You pulled records. You talked to witnesses. You tracked down reports. You explained what would happen next, and when we didn’t understand, you explained it again without making us feel stupid. We didn’t have to wonder if our case was sitting on someone’s desk. We got updates, and when we called, we got answers.
The hardest moment was realizing we’d have to talk about our loved one’s last day in detail. You prepared us for that. You didn’t push us, but you didn’t sugarcoat it either. You told us the other side might argue we were asking for too much, and you warned us they could try to blame our loved one. That made us sick to hear, but it helped to know it was coming.
For us, ‘successful’ didn’t just mean money. It meant accountability. It meant our family didn’t have to lose our home while grieving. It meant the people responsible couldn’t pretend it was no one’s fault. We still miss them every day, but we didn’t feel alone in the process. You carried the legal weight so we could carry our grief.
If we could tell another family one thing, it would be this: don’t wait. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and insurance companies move fast. Get help early so you don’t get pushed into something you can’t undo.”
What made them choose our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers
Families in Los Angeles often come to us after a painful start with insurers, paperwork, and outside pressure. In this case, the client told us a few things helped them decide.
Clear, direct communication: We spoke in plain language, gave next steps, and stayed available. When grief is heavy, confusion gets heavier.
Experience with Los Angeles cases: Local cases can involve local agencies, local roads, and local court schedules. Knowing how LA cases tend to move helps us set expectations and plan the work.
We handled deadlines and documents: Wrongful death cases have strict filing rules. We took over the records requests, the forms, and the back-and-forth, so the family didn’t have to manage a legal project while mourning.
Contingency fees: The family didn’t want another bill showing up during a crisis. We work on a contingency fee, which means no attorney’s fees unless we win.
One point person during a hard time: When you’re grieving, a steady point of contact can lower stress. It’s not about “hand-holding,” it’s about giving you room to breathe.
How we built a strong wrongful death claim, step by step
People see the end result and assume it was one big argument. In real cases, success usually comes from hundreds of small, careful steps, done early and done right.
First, we focused on the core legal question: did someone’s negligence cause the death? In California, that often means proving four basics in a clear chain: duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation (a direct link between the breach and the death), and damages (the losses the family suffers).
Next, we moved fast to protect evidence and lock in the timeline. LA is busy, and details disappear quickly. Video gets recorded over. Witnesses move. Cars get repaired. A case can get harder before it ever gets started if you wait too long.
Then we built the claim the way we’d build it if it had to stand up in front of a jury at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Many cases settle, but we don’t count on it. We prepare so the other side knows we’re ready either way.
For families who want to see the bigger picture of what filing can involve, we also point them to this overview of the Los Angeles wrongful death claim filing steps.
The evidence that helped connect the negligence to the death
Evidence is what turns heartbreak into proof. In many Los Angeles wrongful death claims, the pieces that matter most are simple, but time-sensitive:
- Police or incident reports (LAPD, CHP, or other agencies, depending on where it happened)
- Medical records and bills from treatment before death
- Coroner or medical examiner information when it’s relevant to cause of death
- Photos and video (traffic cams, nearby businesses, phone footage)
- Eyewitness statements and contact info
- Expert reviews when the facts need technical support
- A clean timeline (who did what, when, and what changed after)
We also talk with families about immediate steps that protect the case without adding chaos. If you’re at the scene and it’s safe: call 911, get names and numbers, take photos, and don’t argue fault. If police respond, ask how to get the report number. If police don’t respond (it happens in LA), document everything yourself and still seek medical care when anyone was hurt.
Dealing with insurance companies without getting pressured
Insurance adjusters often call quickly, sometimes within days. The tone can sound kind, even caring. Their job, though, is to reduce the company’s payout.
Here are simple do’s and don’ts we repeat because they protect families:
Do: get the caller’s name, company, claim number, and a call-back number.
Don’t: guess details, offer opinions, or agree to a recorded statement without legal advice.
Don’t: sign medical releases or settlement papers “just to move things along.”
Early offers can be low, even when the loss is massive. Once you accept, you often can’t go back. We step in to handle communications, push back on unfair tactics, and negotiate for damages that reflect the full impact, including financial loss and the human loss that doesn’t fit neatly on a spreadsheet. If the insurer refuses to act reasonably, we’re ready to take the next step and fight the case in court.
What families can recover, deadlines to watch, and answers to common questions
A wrongful death claim can’t replace a person, but it can protect a family from financial collapse and force accountability.
At a high level, damages often fall into two buckets:
Economic damages: medical bills before death, funeral and burial costs, lost income, and the value of lost benefits that would have supported the household.
Non-economic damages: loss of love, companionship, guidance, and support.
Who can file is case-specific, but it’s often the spouse or domestic partner, children, and in some situations other relatives or people who depended on the person financially.
Deadlines matter. In California, the wrongful death statute of limitations is often two years from the date of death. Some cases have shorter windows, like claims involving government entities (often around six months to start a government claim), and the discovery rule can affect timing when the cause of death wasn’t known right away. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to ask early than to assume you have time.
For more background on representation and common case themes, see our wrongful death practice overview and this guide on handling a wrongful death claim in Los Angeles.
Can we pursue a criminal case and a wrongful death lawsuit at the same time?
Yes. A criminal case and a wrongful death lawsuit can run at the same time because they’re different systems with different goals.
- The criminal case is brought by the state and focuses on punishment.
- The civil wrongful death case is brought by the family and focuses on compensation and accountability.
The burden of proof is also different. Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil cases generally use a lower standard, often described as “more likely than not.” While the criminal case moves forward, we can keep building the civil case, protecting evidence, and planning strategy around what information is available.
How long do Los Angeles wrongful death cases usually take?
There’s no single timeline, but many cases take months to more than a year, and some take longer.
A case can move faster when liability is clear, evidence is strong, and there’s enough insurance coverage. It can slow down when fault is disputed, experts are needed, multiple parties are involved, or the court schedule is backed up (which is common in Los Angeles).
Settlements often resolve sooner than trials, but a “fast” settlement isn’t always a fair one. We’d rather take the time to build the case than rush into a number that doesn’t match the loss.
Conclusion
That testimonial wasn’t about a legal win on paper. It was about a family getting answers, financial stability, and a sense that someone stood up for them when they couldn’t.
If you’re facing a wrongful death in Los Angeles, protect what you can right now: save texts and photos, write down what you remember, and don’t let insurance pressure you into quick statements or quick signatures. Deadlines can be shorter than people think, and evidence can vanish in days.
We’re available 24/7, we offer free consultations, and we work on a contingency fee, so you don’t pay attorney’s fees unless we win. When you’re ready, we’re here to carry the legal weight with you.