Wrongful death in California is similar to other personal injury cases, with a couple of exceptions. A wrongful death in California is brought by the executor of the deceased’s estate or a loved one. The executor or the loved one becomes the plaintiff in the lawsuit. The plaintiff is entitled to certain compensation because of the loss of his or her loved one, if it is found that negligence or other behavior was found to have contributed to the death.
A California wrongful death attorney will help you get any evidence pulled together and will file a complaint. He or she will conduct settlement negotiations with the defendant. If the defendant does not offer a fair settlement for a wrongful death in California, the attorney will bring the case to litigation. He or she will hire expert witnesses as needed to show that the defendant’s neglect cause the untimely death of your loved one.
Emery Brett Ledger brings more than 27 years of experience to personal injury law. He founded & led The Ledger Law Firm in securing over $100 million in compensation for clients with life-altering injuries & complex claims. Licensed in California, Texas, & Washington, Emery earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. His practice areas include car & truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, maritime claims, & mass tort litigation. He has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100, Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Top 25, and America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys. Emery also received the 2025 Elite Lawyer Award & holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating with Platinum Client Champion status. His legal work has been featured on CNN, Forbes, NBC, & ABC.
