Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorneys

The Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death in California

Car Accidents

According to recent crash data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, California ranks #2 in the U.S. for both number of fatal car accidents and number of car accident deaths, seeing an average of 10.9 car accident deaths per 100,000 people.

The city with the highest number of car accident fatalities in 2022 was Los Angeles, with 506 auto accident deaths, followed by San Diego (208 fatalities), San Francisco (142 fatalities), and Sacramento (128 fatalities). The most common cause of these accidents was speeding, followed by distracted driving, failure to yield, and driving under the influence (DUI).

Truck Accidents

According to truck crash statistics from 2022, California ranks #2 in the U.S. for total number of truck accidents (13,603), truck accident injuries (4,172), and truck accident fatalities (459). 

On average, around 2.8% of all truck accidents nationwide result in at least one death, with occupants of other vehicles making up 72% of those fatalities, followed by truck drivers (17%) and other individuals like pedestrians and bicyclists (11%).

Related: Truck Hotspots in the Los Angeles Area

Firearm Deaths & Homicide

According to data from the Public Policy Institute of California, homicides in California increased by 33.9% in 2022 when compared to 2019, with gun-related homicides increasing by nearly 38%. Although the number of homicides in Los Angeles has continued to drop in recent years, there were still hundreds of homicides in the city in 2022, totaling 382 deaths.

According to data from the CDC, California had the highest number of homicide-related deaths in the U.S. in 2021, with a total of 2,495 deaths. When considering California’s population size, however, the state ranks 20th for homicide mortality (6.4 deaths per 100,000 people).

Wrongful Death: Civil vs. Criminal Liability

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is an option available for individuals who have lost a loved one due to the carelessness or negligence of someone else. The process involves bringing a civil lawsuit against the individual, company, or entity responsible for the death. 

Importantly, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed regardless of whether criminal charges have been brought against the defendant or not. This is because the criminal justice system and civil justice system operate independently of each other. While a criminal case seeks to punish the wrongdoer for violating the law, a civil lawsuit aims to compensate the victim's family for the losses they have suffered. A wrongful death lawsuit is not a homicide trial.

In criminal cases, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of a crime (e.g., vehicular manslaughter). However, in civil cases, where the goal is to hold the responsible party accountable for damages and compensation, the burden of proof is lower; the plaintiff must prove their case by a preponderance of evidence, meaning that it is more likely than not that the defendant caused the wrongful death.

Regardless of the circumstances that led to your loved one’s death, it is important to seek the counsel of a qualified wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles who can guide you through the process and help you understand your rights and the legal grounds on which to pursue your case.

Learn How Wisner Baum Can Fight for You

Simply put, the sooner you contact a lawyer at Wisner Baum, the better. 

Our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers will be able to help you avoid missing any important deadlines and can take steps to lay a strong foundation for your case, from assisting you in identifying the at-fault party to determining whether to file your case in a federal or state court. We will also ensure your loved one’s probate estate is opened, when appropriate, and that any and all notice provisions are taken care of.

Wisner Baum’s legal team fights for the rights of wrongful death claimants and has a record of winning high-profile cases. We understand that nothing can make up for the loss of a family member, but if negligence was a factor in their untimely death, the party responsible should be brought to justice.

Call our Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys today at (855) 948-5098 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.