For Referring Attorneys: A Co-Counsel Partner Who Actually Tries These Cases
Wrongful death cases are among the most complex and emotionally charged matters in civil litigation. They require specialized damages modeling, multidisciplinary expert networks, and a trial team that juries believe. If you have referred a wrongful death case before and watched it settle for a fraction of its value because the firm blinked at trial, you already know what is at stake.
We take wrongful death referrals as co-counsel. We protect your client relationship, communicate transparently at every stage, and prepare every case as if a jury will decide it — because sometimes they do. Our wrongful death verdicts include a $15 million result in Santa Monica and a $26.1 million pedestrian fatality verdict. Insurance companies know which firms try cases. We are one of them.
If you have a wrongful death case that exceeds your firm's trial capacity or falls outside your practice area, contact us to discuss a referral. We review every case within 24 hours.
Wrongful Death Representation
If you are reading this because you lost someone — a parent, a spouse, a child — we want to say this plainly before anything else: we are sorry. Nothing about this process will be easy, and we will not pretend otherwise.
What we can tell you is that the law gives families in your position the right to hold the responsible party accountable. Not as a transaction. Not as a settlement number. As a verdict, if that is what justice requires.
We are a trial firm. We have tried over 80 jury and bench trials across federal, state, and military courts. We do not take wrongful death cases to generate settlement volume — we take them because families deserve an attorney who will go the distance.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim arises when someone dies as a result of another party's negligence or misconduct. The law allows surviving family members and dependents to seek compensation for the financial and personal losses caused by that death.
These cases are not simple. They require expert witnesses, forensic analysis, and attorneys who understand how to present the full scope of a family's loss to a jury — not just the medical bills, but the life that was taken.
We work closely with expert witnesses to calculate every category of damages. We do not leave money on the table because we did not think to ask for it.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
Wrongful death can result from many circumstances. We represent families in cases involving:
● Car accidents● Bus accidents● Motorcycle accidents● Truck accidents● Aviation accidents● Train accidents● Pedestrian accidents● Traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in death● Medical negligence● Dangerous premises● Product defects● Police use of force
What Damages Can a Wrongful Death Claim Recover?
Wrongful death claims can recover three categories of damages. Understanding what is available — and fighting for all of it — is where an experienced trial lawyer earns the outcome.
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses caused by the death:
● Medical expenses connected to the fatal injury or illness● Funeral and burial expenses● Lost income and future earning capacity● Loss of benefits, including pension plans and medical coverage● The value of household services and goods the deceased would have provided● Loss of inheritance
Non-economic damages cover the personal and relational losses that cannot be reduced to a receipt:
Punitive damages may be available in cases where the defendant's conduct was especially reckless or egregious. These are not guaranteed, but when the facts support them, we pursue them.
Calculating these damages accurately is one of the most consequential things a wrongful death attorney does. We retain expert witnesses — economists, life care planners, medical specialists — to ensure the full picture of your loss is documented and presented. We do not round down.
● Mental anguish and grief of surviving family members● Loss of care, protection, guidance, advice, and nurturing● Loss of love and companionship● Loss of consortium
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
The right to file a wrongful death claim depends on state law and the specific relationships involved. Generally, those who may be entitled to file include:
● Spouses
● Children
● Parents
● Other dependents or beneficiaries of the deceased
Proven Wrongful Death Results
We do not describe ourselves as experienced wrongful death attorneys. We prove it.
These are verdicts and settlements won in court — not offers accepted because trial felt too hard. When the evidence supports the fight, we fight.
$15 million
Wrongful death verdict, Santa Monica. A teenager suffered cardiac arrest during a physical education class. Required emergency response equipment was not used. We took the case to trial and won.
$13 million
Wrongful death verdict, Los Angeles, 2019. A child was killed by a falling metal door. We held the responsible party accountable at trial.
$5 million
Wrongful death settlement, Phoenix, 2022. A man was killed by police during an arrest. We secured accountability and compensation for his family.
Why the Attorney You Choose Matters
Insurance companies and defense firms know which plaintiff attorneys try cases and which ones settle. That reputation affects every negotiation before a single deposition is taken.
Haytham Faraj has tried over 80 jury and bench trials across federal, state, and military courts. He graduated at the top of his class from the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course and spent 22 years in uniform before transitioning to civilian trial practice. He is a faculty member at the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College — where he teaches trial skills to attorneys nationwide.
When opposing counsel sees our name on a wrongful death case, they know we will go to trial if the offer is not right. That knowledge changes the calculus on their side of the table.
For families, it means something different: you have an attorney who treats your case as a mission, not a file number. We do not hand wrongful death cases to junior associates. Haytham Faraj handles the work.
The Statute of Limitations — Do Not Wait
Wrongful death claims are governed by statutes of limitations that vary by state and by the type of defendant involved. In California, the general statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of death. In Illinois, it is also two years. Claims against government entities carry shorter deadlines — sometimes as little as six months to file a government tort claim.
Evidence disappears. Witnesses move on. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. The longer you wait, the harder the case becomes to build.
If you are unsure whether the deadline has passed, contact us anyway. We will tell you the truth.
Discuss Your Wrongful Death Case
We offer free consultations for families and referring attorneys. We will review the facts, give you an honest assessment, and tell you what we think the case is worth and what it will take to win.
We serve clients in Los Angeles, Chicago, and throughout California, Illinois, Michigan, and Washington D.C. Consultations are available in English and Arabic.
Need a Consultation? We Are Here to Help You!
Feel free to contact us to schedule a consultation.