Wrongful Death Lawyer in Oak Park, CA

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Oak Park Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks near Oak Park, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured residents across Ventura County.

Losing a family member due to someone else's negligence or recklessness is among the most devastating experiences imaginable. While no amount of money can replace your loved one, a wrongful death claim can provide financial stability for surviving family members and hold the responsible party accountable. Our attorneys handle wrongful death cases in Oak Park with the compassion and tenacity that grieving families deserve.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in California?

A wrongful death claim arises when a person is killed due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct of another person or entity. Common causes of wrongful death in Oak Park include fatal car accidents on Kanan Road or US-101, trucking crashes, pedestrian accidents, premises liability incidents, and fatal dog attacks.

Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, certain family members have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. These include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children of the deceased, and, if there is no surviving spouse or children, other individuals who were dependent on the deceased for support.

What Damages Can the Family Recover?

Surviving family members can recover:

• Financial support the deceased would have provided over their lifetime
• Loss of gifts and benefits family members would have received
• Funeral and burial expenses
• The reasonable value of household services the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, comfort, care, and guidance
• Loss of consortium for a surviving spouse

In addition to the wrongful death claim, the estate may bring a related survival action to recover for the deceased's own losses before death, including their pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost earnings from the time of injury to death.

The Importance of Acting Quickly

The statute of limitations for wrongful death in California is generally two years from the date of death. While that may seem like enough time, building a wrongful death case requires extensive investigation, expert witnesses, and careful documentation of economic and non-economic losses. Starting promptly ensures evidence is preserved and your case is built on the strongest foundation.

How We Handle Wrongful Death Cases

Our attorneys treat every wrongful death case with the gravity it deserves. We conduct a full investigation into the cause of your loved one's death, identify all liable parties and all available insurance coverage, engage economists and life care planners to fully value the family's losses, and present the case compellingly in settlement negotiations or at trial in Ventura County Superior Court.

We are deeply sorry for your loss. Please contact Curt Brown for a private, no-obligation consultation. More information about our practice in the area is available on our Oak Park personal injury page.