*** News Flash Heimberg Barr has joined forces with Stalwart Law Group ***
*** News Flash Heimberg Barr has joined forces with Stalwart Law Group ***
*** News Flash Heimberg Barr has joined forces with Stalwart Law Group ***
Dealing with the loss of a beloved family member is difficult, no matter the circumstances. If the death was the result of negligence or other wrongdoing of another, there is recourse for the relatives of the deceased through special laws called “wrongful death” and “survival” actions.
If you have lost a loved one because of medical negligence or other medical wrongdoing by a California medical professional, Heimberg Barr LLP is ready to assist you. The firm has offered compassionate and comprehensive counsel to families throughout the state since 1993. Contact the firm today to schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney about your case.
California law defines wrongful death as a death “caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.” (California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60)
This provides the right to sue a medical provider for improper care leading to the death of your loved one.
In 2016, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine “calculated that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical error in the U.S. Their figure, published May 3 in the British Medical Journal, makes medical wrongdoing the second leading cause of death in America, ahead of respiratory disease, which kills close to 150,000 people per year. Some of the most common examples of fatal medical malpractice include:
California law gives specific people the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Only one wrongful death claim can be filed, and all other parties who have a claim to the compensation can be named as plaintiffs in that claim. Those with legal standing to file a wrongful death claim in California may include:
In a wrongful death claim, the family is compensated for its losses. In a survival action, the state allows a decedent’s estate to recover for injuries or damages suffered by the decedent immediately before death. Under the California survival action statute, plaintiffs may recover damages which cover the “the loss or damage that the decedent sustained or incurred before death, including any penalties or punitive or exemplary damages that the decedent would have been entitled to recover had the decedent lived, and do not include damages for pain, suffering, or disfigurement.” (Code of Civil Procedure §377.30).
In other words, a survival action allows the plaintiffs to recover the damages that the deceased would have been entitled to, had he or she survived the incident. Those damages can include:
Medical expense
Lost wages
Survival actions do not allow for pain and suffering claims. They do, however, allow for punitive damages, which are intended to punish the wrongdoer for his or her negligence.
settlement for negligent delivery of triplets resulting in the death of one infant and injuries to the other
Settlement under California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act for the family of a 44 year old man who died while hospitalized
If you have suffered the loss of a dear loved one because of someone else’s negligent actions or intentional wrongful acts, the firm is here to provide legal advocacy, and support and to ensure that you recover the compensation you need.
Medical errors can kill. If your loved one dies as a result of medical negligence, Heimberg Barr LLP can help you file an appropriate claim.To schedule a free consultation, please call us on Los Angeles at (310) 954-2000 or fill out this contact form.
Bill (our son/brother) had a mental illness and ended up in a hospital where he was hurt. Dr. Heimberg understood the importance of Bill and his meaning in our life, looked beyond the mental illness and found the medical mis-management that led to my brother’s death. It helped us not only put the puzzle together about what happened to Bill, but also let us hold people accountable who needed to be held accountable.
Steve Heimberg is not your stereotypical lawyer. He’s not in the business he’s in for the money. He’s in the business to right wrongs, to protect patients. He’s personable; he’s just very, very determined. His low-key manner is very open and friendly, but it’s deceiving because being a doctor he can explain things to juries in a very simple way where they will understand and not get thrown by the medical terminology.
The largest verdict in California history for a client who was denied proper care after cardiac surgery because his surgeon prematurely left the OR.
A verdict for an injured man and his wife against a fitness center for failure to perform CPR leading to brain damage.
California law strictly limits who has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The primary people who may file include:
Others may qualify if they were financially dependent on the deceased, including:
In most cases, you have 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California.
Missing this deadline usually means losing your right to pursue compensation, regardless of the strength of your case.
Important exceptions include:
California law allows surviving family members to recover two primary types of damages in a wrongful death claim.
Economic Damages (No Cap)
Non-Economic Damages
2026 MICRA Update: In medical malpractice wrongful death cases, the non-economic damages cap is $650,000 as of January 1, 2026. The cap increases by $50,000 each year until it reaches $1,000,000 in 2034.
Although they often arise from the same event, wrongful death claims and survival actions serve different legal purposes.
2026 Update: The temporary California law allowing recovery for a deceased person's pre-death pain and suffering expired on January 1, 2026. Survival actions filed in 2026 and later are generally limited to economic damages and any applicable punitive damages.
You are not legally required to hire an attorney, but wrongful death cases often involve complex legal, financial, and procedural issues.
Experienced legal representation can help by: