Van Nuys Wrongful Death Lawyer

Did you lose a loved one in a fatal accident in Van Nuys, CA?

At Cohen Injury Law Group, we help grieving families in Van Nuys pursue accountability and full recovery after a wrongful death.

If a loved one died because someone else was careless, you are facing grief alongside funeral costs, lost household income, and questions no family should have to answer. Our Van Nuys, CA wrongful death lawyer can explain your rights and take on the legal work while you focus on your family. Cohen Injury Law Group represents grieving families across Southern California, and our attorney has handled serious-injury and wrongful death matters since 1991. Reach out when you are ready, and we will review what happened together.

Wrongful Death Lawyer Van Nuys, CA

A wrongful death claim is a civil case brought when a person dies because of another party’s negligence or wrongful act. It is separate from any criminal case the state may pursue. The goal is not punishment but compensation for the family members left behind, along with a measure of accountability for a loss that should not have happened.

California law lets specific surviving relatives bring this kind of claim. That usually means a spouse or domestic partner and the person’s children, and in some situations other family members who depended on the person who died. A wrongful death lawyer can determine who has the right to file, what the claim may be worth, and which parties should be held responsible.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Van Nuys

Fatal injuries come from many kinds of incidents. Unintentional injuries rank among the leading causes of death in the country, and behind many of them is a preventable mistake. We handle wrongful death claims that arise from the following situations.

• Car accidents. Fatal crashes on the 405, Victory Boulevard, and residential streets often involve speeding, impairment, or distraction. NHTSA crash data counts tens of thousands of traffic deaths across the country each year. We work to identify every driver and factor that contributed.
• Truck accidents. Collisions with large commercial trucks are far more likely to be fatal. These cases require fast work to preserve driver logs, electronic data, and maintenance records before they disappear. We pursue the trucking company, not only the driver.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders have little protection in a crash, and their families are sometimes left facing the worst outcome. Insurers often try to blame the rider first. We challenge that narrative with evidence.
• Pedestrian accidents. A person on foot rarely survives a high-speed impact. Crosswalk and intersection deaths raise questions about driver attention, signal timing, and right of way. We investigate each of them.
• Bicycle accidents. Cyclists killed by cars frequently had the right of way. We reconstruct the crash and hold the responsible driver accountable for the family’s loss.
• Premises liability. Deaths on another person’s property can result from unsafe conditions, absent security, or hazards an owner ignored. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail, we hold them responsible.
• Construction accidents. Falls, equipment failures, and site hazards claim lives every year. Liability can reach beyond an employer to contractors and equipment makers. We trace each responsible party.
• Dog bites. A severe mauling can turn fatal, particularly for young children and older adults. California holds owners responsible for the harm their animals cause. We handle these sensitive claims with care.
• Slip and falls. A fall from height or onto a hard surface can be fatal, especially for older adults. These deaths often follow a hazard the property owner knew about and left in place. We look closely at what the owner did and failed to do.
• Brain injuries. Some fatal harm begins as a severe head injury that a person does not survive. These claims call for detailed medical records and, at times, testimony about the cause of death. We build them with care and patience.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as my Wrongful Death Lawyer in Van Nuys, CA?

Decades of Serious-Injury Trial Work

Wayne R. Cohen founded Cohen Injury Law Group and is recognized across the country as a personal injury trial attorney. He has practiced law since 1991 and serves as a professorial lecturer at George Washington University Law School. Over the course of his career, our attorney has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and grieving families. Nicholas E. Cohen adds further depth to the firm’s plaintiff-side work, combining legal and business experience.

Local Representation You Can Rely On

We know the courts, roads, and insurers that shape these cases in the San Fernando Valley. As a personal injury lawyer in Van Nuys, CA, our firm handles the full range of fatal-accident matters. We take wrongful death cases on a contingency basis, which means you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family. That structure lets families move forward without adding a financial burden during an already difficult time. We manage the calls, paperwork, and negotiations, so your family is not left dealing with insurance adjusters during a period of mourning.

What Is Important to Understand About a Wrongful Death Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases

Compensation in a wrongful death claim is meant to address the family’s losses, both financial and personal. California recognizes economic and non-economic damages in these cases. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, from bills to lost income. Non-economic damages address the human losses that carry no receipt, such as the absence of a parent, spouse, or child. A claim may include:

• Funeral and burial expenses.
• The income and financial support the person would have provided.
• The value of household services and care they contributed.
• Loss of companionship, comfort, and guidance for close family.

Liability turns on negligence. If another party’s careless or wrongful conduct caused the death, that party can be held financially responsible for the harm. More than one party is sometimes at fault, and each can be pursued. California also follows comparative fault, which allows a family to recover even when the person who died shared part of the blame, with the award reduced by that share. The value of a claim depends on the facts, including the person’s age, earnings, and role in the family, so no two cases look the same.

What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?

A few things shape how these cases unfold, and many fatal incidents trace back to preventable causes. Evidence and timing matter more than most families expect, and small early decisions can shape the outcome months later.

• Proving negligence takes clear evidence, so early investigation counts.
• The correct claimants must be identified under state law.
• Insurance coverage often determines how much can realistically be recovered.
• Multiple relatives may share a single claim, which affects how a recovery is divided.
• Grief and financial pressure can push families toward quick, low offers.

What Is The Wrongful Death Case Timeline?

Every case moves at its own pace, but most follow a similar path. Some claims resolve in a matter of months, while others take a year or more when they proceed toward trial. Deadlines apply from the start, and the statute of limitations sets the outer limit for filing. Acting early also protects evidence that can fade, such as vehicle damage, road conditions, and witness memories. A typical case moves through these stages:

• Initial review of the accident and the family’s situation.
• Investigation and gathering of records, reports, and evidence.
• Filing the claim and notifying the responsible parties.
• Negotiation with insurers, and a settlement or trial depending on the offers.
• Resolution, whether through a fair agreement or a verdict.

What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?

Bringing a few documents helps us assess your claim quickly. Anything you have is useful, even if it feels incomplete.

• The death certificate and any accident or police reports.
• Medical bills and records connected to the incident.
• Photos, video, or the names of any witnesses.
• Letters or messages from insurance companies.

At the meeting, we will listen, answer your questions, and explain your options in plain terms. We will also describe how a contingency arrangement works and what the next steps look like, so you leave with a clear picture. There is no pressure to decide anything on the spot, and the conversation is confidential.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Wrongful Death Cases?

Some families want to read the law for themselves. These state resources are a starting point for the rules that most often apply to a wrongful death claim in California. They are meant for general background rather than legal advice, and the rule that fits your situation can depend on the specific facts.

• California sets a two-year deadline to file most wrongful death cases, measured from the date of death.
• The state’s basic duty of care statute is the foundation of most negligence claims.
• California law also defines the recoverable damages available to surviving family members.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

You do not have to sort through this alone. When you are ready, contact us for a confidential case review, and we will walk through your options as your Van Nuys wrongful death lawyer. We work on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover for your family. We respond promptly, and we will give your family the time it deserves.