California Wrongful Death Lawyer

California Wrongful Death Attorney

When someone suffers a personal injury due to the actions of another party, they have the right to seek compensation for their damages. However, if they do not survive, their family would need to file a wrongful death suit in place of the personal injury suit they could have filed if they had survived. This type of personal injury case is subject to specific rules in California, and it will be crucial to have a California wrongful death lawyer assist you with this type of case.

Best California Wrongful Death Lawyer

Compassionate Wrongful Death Counsel in California

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have decades of experience helping our clients throughout California with all types of difficult personal injury cases, including those involving fatal injuries. When your loved one has died due to another party’s actions, it is natural to have lots of difficult legal questions that you cannot answer alone. We can provide guidance and legal support when you need it most as you pursue accountability for this tragic loss.

Our firm can work quickly to gather the evidence and witness testimony you may need to prove fault for your loved one’s death. Whether they died in a motor vehicle accident, a work-related accident, as the result of violent crime, or due to any type of fatal injury from a defective product, you can rely on the personal injury lawyers at Easton & Easton to build a cohesive wrongful death suit, uncover all of the damages you can claim, and guide you to a positive outcome to your case.

Proving Liability for Wrongful Death in California

Success with any personal injury case in California will require proving liability for the death. This means identifying the party who caused your loved one’s fatal injury and proving exactly how they caused their death. Depending on the type of incident that resulted in the fatal injury, various types of physical and digital evidence could come into play, along with testimony from witnesses who saw the fatal incident occur.

Some of the most common causes of fatal personal injuries throughout California include motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and violent crime. Your California wrongful death lawyer will assist you with gathering the foundational evidence of your case and explain the steps you will need to complete in order to hold the defendant accountable for the harm they have caused.

Success with a wrongful death suit can provide a sense of closure and hold a defendant accountable for their actions. If they broke the law when they caused your loved one’s death, they may face criminal charges, and your attorney can explain how this could impact your civil claim for damages. Easton & Easton has the skills and experience necessary to help you firmly establish liability for your loved one’s wrongful death in California.

Recovering Compensation for Wrongful Death

Once you have proven liability for your loved one’s death, you can seek compensation for your family’s losses. Like in most other personal injury cases, it is possible to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. However, wrongful death suits are inherently more complex than most standard personal injury cases, so it is important to know what to expect in terms of the compensation you and your family can receive.

California law restricts eligibility to file a wrongful death suit to the personal representative of the deceased’s estate or their closest living relatives, usually a spouse, child, or parent. Your attorney can explain the eligibility requirements for filing the case and then explain the compensation that can be secured on behalf of the victim’s beneficiaries. It is also possible to claim compensation for damages to the deceased’s estate.

Your California wrongful death lawyer can help your family hold a defendant accountable for the cost of the victim’s final medical care if they did not die immediately due to the defendant’s actions. It is also possible to seek compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced prior to their death. Additionally, the family has the right to seek compensation for their own economic and non-economic damages.

A plaintiff in a wrongful death suit in California can claim compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support the deceased provided to their family, and increased living expenses resulting from the death.

The family also has the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. A surviving spouse can be compensated for the loss of affection and consortium, and surviving children can receive compensation for the loss of parental guidance and companionship.

Ultimately, a wrongful death suit can potentially yield a sizeable case award for the family of the victim. When you hire Easton & Easton to represent you in a wrongful death case, you will have a dedicated legal advocate ready to provide comprehensive legal support through every phase of your proceedings, and we will do everything we can to maximize the compensation you obtain from the defendant responsible for causing your loved one’s death.

How Your California Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help

Losing a family member unexpectedly is difficult for anyone, but knowing that their death was the result of another party’s actions is especially challenging. This situation involves heavy emotional strain that can make it difficult for anyone to remain focused on complex legal proceedings, so it is crucial to have legal representation you trust for this type of personal injury case.

As soon as you secure our representation, Easton & Easton can begin building the strongest wrongful death case we can. Our team will gather the evidence needed to establish liability for your loss, uncover all the various types of compensation you are eligible to seek from the defendant, and explain the legal proceedings you will need to endure in order to ensure the defendant’s accountability.

You face a statutory deadline for filing a wrongful death suit in California, and it may take longer than you expect to gather all of the evidence you will need to firmly establish liability for the death. It is crucial to connect with an experienced California wrongful death lawyer as quickly as possible. The team at Easton & Easton is ready to provide the guidance you need for this difficult case and will do everything we can to guide you to a positive outcome.

FAQs

Q: How Do You Prove Liability for Wrongful Death in California?

A: You prove liability for wrongful death in California the same way you would prove fault in any other type of personal injury case. You will need to identify the party or parties you believe to be responsible for causing the death, prove how they caused the death, and then show the full extent of the damages your family suffered. An experienced California wrongful death lawyer will be invaluable for helping you build a strong case.

Q: How Much Is a Wrongful Death Suit Worth in California?

A: The value of a wrongful death suit in California depends on multiple variables, and it is impossible to assign monetary value to any person’s life. The objective of your case is to secure the compensation you and your family need to handle the economic strain of losing your loved one. Your California wrongful death lawyer can explain the various types of compensation you can recover from the defendant if you succeed in proving fault.

Q: How Does Comparative Fault Work in Wrongful Death Cases?

A: Comparative fault may come into play in some wrongful death cases, and this can diminish the case award the plaintiff obtains from the defendant. If the facts of the case show that the victim was partially responsible for the incident that caused their death, a fault percentage is assigned to reflect their level of liability. This percentage is then subtracted from the case award, and the plaintiff will receive the remainder.

Q: Why Should I Hire a California Wrongful Death Lawyer?

A: You should hire a California wrongful death lawyer because this type of personal injury case is likely to be more challenging than it initially appears. Even if you think the fault for your loved one’s death is perfectly obvious, the actual legal process of holding them accountable will be difficult. The right attorney can help you build a stronger case and significantly increase your chances of success with your claim.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a California Wrongful Death Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a California wrongful death lawyer will depend on the total value of your case if you choose Easton & Easton to represent you. We operate on a contingency fee basis for all personal injury cases, including wrongful death cases. This means you do not pay upfront fees, and you will not pay anything if we are unable to secure compensation for you. If we win your case, our fee will be a percentage of the total amount recovered.

The team at Easton & Easton has the professional resources and experience necessary to handle the most challenging personal injury cases throughout California. If you have lost a family member due to an act of negligence or intentional misconduct of any kind, we can help you pursue accountability and compensation for your family’s loss. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a California wrongful death lawyer to learn how we can help.

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Firm Awards

Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in Los Angeles

Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — recognized more than 75 times by TopVerdict.com over the past 5 years — including fifty-eight #1 recognitions, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.

Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Easton & Easton was voted #1 in 2026 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve. Voted #1 in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — four #1 wins, including three years in a row

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.

All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2027. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.

Number 1 Paraplegia Settlement California 2024

Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025

Number 1 Rollover case Accident Settlement California 2025

Number 1 Bicycle Accident Settlement California 2024

We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.

Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.

Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2026. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.

Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve

Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2026. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.

Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.

Personal Injury Settlements United States 2024

Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.

Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.

Doug Easton has held the "AV Preeminent" Rating for over 30 years, and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.

Number 1 Bicycle Accident Settlement Los Angeles 2023

We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.

Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.

Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.

20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.

Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”

Partner W. Douglas Easton

What Our Clients Say

“Client testimonials reflect individual experiences; results vary. No guarantee of outcome.”

Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…

Sara McClelland

My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…

Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…

Sofia Sanchez

I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…

Dan Campbell

Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…

Kyle Keith

What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…

Logan Ross

I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee

Ashlee A.

Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.

Jeffrey N.

I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!

Mark B.

They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.

Vamsi P.

Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!

Jennifer P.

I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.

Claudia C.

I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way

Linda M.

The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!

Ericka P.