When someone you love is killed in a crash, it changes everything. The grief is real. But so are the questions. What happened? Who’s responsible? What are your rights?
At the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, we help families get answers. As an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer, Adrianos focuses on helping people just like you those dealing with the loss of a family member due to someone else’s careless driving.
Our team handles personal injury cases involving fatal car crashes across LA. We deal with the legal side so you don’t have to. You’ll know your options. You’ll know what steps to take. And you’ll never pay anything unless we win your case. That’s part of our free consultation promise.
Get Legal Help After a Fatal Car Crash in Los Angeles
If you’re here, you’re likely looking for answers. Maybe your brother, daughter, or partner was killed in a crash. You’re not thinking about lawsuits you just want to know what happens next.
A fatal car accident attorney helps families find those answers. We deal with the legal details so you can focus on what matters: getting through each day. We look at what went wrong, who’s at fault, and how to hold them responsible. If a wrongful death claim is right for your situation, we’ll explain how it works in clear, simple terms.
This page is for anyone in Los Angeles dealing with the loss of a loved one due to a crash whether it was drunk driving, speeding, or reckless behavior. We’re here to help you understand your rights and take the next step forward.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim After a Car Accident?
A wrongful death claim is a legal way to hold the at-fault driver accountable for someone’s death. It’s not about putting a price on a life it’s about getting support for what was lost: income, care, connection, and a future together.
If a loved one died in a crash and someone else was to blame whether from distracted driving, ignoring traffic laws, or something else you may have the right to file a claim. These cases fall under personal injury law, but instead of the injured person suing, the family does.
Who Can File a Claim in California?
In California, a wrongful death claim can usually be filed by the spouse, children, or parents of the person who died. If none of those people are available, others who were financially dependent on the victim may qualify.
Wrongful Death vs. Survival Action
A wrongful death claim is about the family’s loss what they missed out on emotionally and financially. A survival action is different. It focuses on what the person experienced before they died, like medical care, pain, or fear.
Some families are eligible to file both types of claims. We’ll help you understand the difference and what makes sense in your case.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered?
Losing someone in a crash often comes with a pile of unexpected costs. A fatal accident lawyer helps you recover money for those losses and not just the obvious ones like medical bills and funeral expenses.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages are the financial hits: hospital bills, loss of income, future earnings, and other out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages cover things like emotional distress, loss of support, and the pain of losing a loved one.
How Settlement Value Is Determined
Every case is different. The value of your accident claim depends on the victim’s age, income, medical care provided, and how the accident happened. Courts may also award punitive damages if the fault party was especially reckless like driving drunk or texting at high speeds.
We dig deep. We use medical records, expert testimony, and the accident scene itself to build a strong case. Our legal team looks at insurance policies, the behavior of the fault driver, and every detail that could affect your claim. All to fight for the maximum compensation allowed under the law.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Fatal Car Accidents?
Most fatal crashes don’t come out of nowhere. They usually trace back to careless choices or flat-out violations of traffic laws. A negligent driver runs a red light. A trucker speeds to meet a deadline. A distracted teen checks their cell phone behind the wheel. These aren’t just mistakes. They’re actions with consequences.
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Red light violations
- Drowsy driving
- Aggressive driving
- Bad weather or road conditions
- Vehicle defects
- Inexperienced drivers
- Failing to yield
What Kinds of Crashes Are Most Often Fatal?
Some accidents are just more deadly, especially when speed or vehicle size are involved. The most serious crashes we see are:
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- T-bone crashes
- Single-car crashes
- Multi-car pileups
Head-on and rollover accidents are especially deadly. They often involve higher speeds or force, and in many cases, people are ejected from the vehicle or suffer crush injuries. These are the cases where quick legal help is critical.
What Happens to the Human Body in a Fatal Crash?
Cars are fast. The human body isn’t built to absorb that kind of force. Even at 40 or 50 mph, a sudden stop or violent spin can cause injuries that no one walks away from.
Common Fatal Injuries
- Blunt force trauma
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal or brain injuries
We’ve seen cases where a crash looked minor from the outside, but the victim suffered internal damage that couldn’t be seen until it was too late. These injuries can affect the brain, spine, and internal organs, often leading to death before the person reaches a hospital.
How Fast Is “Too Fast” in a Fatal Crash?
Speed kills. It’s not just a saying it’s physics. In many traffic accidents, once you pass 50 mph, the chance of death rises fast. And if a vehicle is larger, like in truck accidents, even lower speeds can turn deadly.
If someone is driving well above the speed limit or if they blow through a red light it becomes easier to prove negligence. In California, comparative negligence law still lets you recover damages even if your loved one was partially at fault.
Speed matters not just on the road, but in court.
Who’s Most at Risk in Fatal Car Accidents?
Some groups face a higher risk of being killed in a crash than others. It’s not just about who’s driving it’s about how, where, and when.
What Age Group Is Most Affected?
According to recent data from the NHTSA, drivers aged 25 to 34 are more likely to be involved in fatal motor vehicle collisions than any other age group. Younger drivers often take more risks behind the wheel, especially when it comes to speeding, drunk driving, or using a phone while driving. But seniors are also vulnerable especially as pedestrians.
For families, age matters in a personal injury lawsuit. Courts consider things like how many years someone might have worked, earned income, and supported others. If a young parent dies, for example, their children may be entitled to more financial compensation because of that lost future support.
What Gender Is Most Affected?
Men are statistically more likely to be killed in fatal crashes than women. This holds true across nearly all age groups. The reasons often come down to behavior men are more likely to speed, drive under the influence, or not wear seatbelts.
Understanding these patterns helps accident lawyers build stronger cases. If someone ignored their duty of care, that behavior can help prove negligence and shift fault in an accident claim.
What to Do After a Fatal Accident
Taking the right steps early on can make a real difference in holding the responsible parties accountable. Here’s what families should do:
- Call 911 and make sure a full police report is created.
- Request all medical records, death certificates, and coroner documents.
- Take photos of the scene if possible, or ask someone to.
- Write down names and contact info of witnesses.
- Don’t talk to the insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
- Reach out to a fatal car accident attorney to review your options.
The days after a crash are hard. But these steps help protect your rights especially when dealing with the insurance providers later. Missing documents or waiting too long can hurt your ability to file an accident lawsuit.
How Our Fatal Car Accident Lawyers Help Families
Our job is to make sure the law works for you not just the other side. At the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, we take on serious accident cases involving catastrophic injuries, drunk drivers, and families who’ve lost someone due to someone else’s mistake.
We help with every part of the process:
- We investigate what happened. That includes photos, traffic cameras, and witness interviews.
- We deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to.
- We file your claim or lawsuit, including all documents and deadlines.
- We fight for fair compensation, whether that’s through a settlement or going to court.
As a Top Los Angeles Fatal Car Accident Lawyer, Adrianos brings extensive experience in handling complex cases. We’ve dealt with rear-end collisions, hit-and-runs, and fatal drunk driving accidents and we know what it takes to prove fault and secure a fair settlement.
We understand how the system works. We know how to handle delays, low offers, and pressure from insurance providers. And we’ll help you understand what’s happening every step of the way.
FAQs About Fatal Car Accidents
How long do I have to file a claim?
In California, you typically have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. It’s called a statute of limitations. If you miss that window, you might lose your chance to recover financial compensation, even if your case is strong. Some exceptions apply, but the sooner you speak with a lawyer, the better.
What if my case doesn’t settle?
Most cases do settle out of court but not all. If the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, our team is prepared to take your case to trial. We’ve handled accident injury claims that reached the courtroom and secured results when it mattered most. That’s part of working with an experienced law firm with a real track record.
What’s the cost of hiring a lawyer?
We don’t charge anything upfront. You only pay us if we win. This is called a contingency fee. That means we’re on the same team you don’t take on extra medical bills or legal fees just to get help. If there’s no recovery, there’s no fee.
Can multiple family members file together?
Yes, but it depends. In many cases, one claim is filed on behalf of several family members. That claim includes losses like loss of companionship, future support, and enjoyment of life. We’ll explain how it works based on your family situation.
Fatal Car Accident Stats in Los Angeles
Los Angeles sees some of the highest rates of traffic deaths in the country and the numbers haven’t improved much. In recent years:
- The city reported over 330 traffic fatalities in 2023, according to LAPD crash data.
- Vision Zero LA continues to track efforts to reduce these numbers, but deadly crashes especially those involving Reckless driving, Distracted drivers, and motorcycle accidents remain a serious problem.
- Intersections like Florence and Vermont, and stretches of roads like La Brea Avenue and Sherman Way, are among the most dangerous.
Fatal crashes aren’t always high-speed or dramatic. Some involve rear-end accidents, Hit-and-Run Accidents, or simple failure to yield at a traffic signal. But the outcome is still the same someone doesn’t make it home.
We track these patterns closely, because understanding where and how these accidents happen helps us fight harder for families in fatal car accident lawsuits.
Connect With a Trusted Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles Now
If you’ve lost someone in a fatal car crash, you don’t need to guess your next move. The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti offers a free consultation to help you understand your legal options. No pressure. Just answers.
As a trusted Los Angeles fatal car accident lawyer, Adrianos brings years of experience handling wrongful death and personal injury claims especially those involving insurance companies, crash victims, and severe injuries.
You won’t pay unless we win. And we take care of the hard parts collecting medical records, proving fault, and working through the legal process so you can focus on your family.
If you're ready to speak with a real person who understands the system and cares about results, call us or reach out using the contact form.
You deserve straight answers. You deserve real help.
