This article helps families in Los Angeles and across California who have lost a loved one or suffered a life-changing injury and need to find a lawyer they can trust. It explains what wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims are, how to judge the lawyers who handle them, and what steps to take right away. Hakakian Law, led by attorney Shawn Hakakian, gives families a credible place to start. You can reach the firm for a free consultation at hakakianlaw.com . What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in California? A wrongful death claim lets certain family members sue when someone else's careless or harmful actions cause a death. California law sets this out in Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 . A car crash, a defective product, or a medical mistake can all lead to a claim. Only specific people can file. The spouse or domestic partner comes first, then the children. If there are no children, the law may allow parents, siblings, or others who depended on the person who died. The money a family can recover falls into two groups. The first covers real costs like funeral bills, medical expenses, and the income the loved one would have earned. The second covers the loss of love, comfort, and companionship the family no longer has. You have a deadline. In most California wrongful death cases, you must file within two years of the death. Miss that window and the court can refuse to hear your case, no matter how strong it is. Talking to a lawyer early protects your right to be heard. What Is a Catastrophic Injury Claim in California? A catastrophic injury permanently changes how you live, work, and care for yourself. California courts treat these cases differently from a broken arm or a fender bender because the damage rarely heals. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and severe burns all fall into this category. The line between a general personal injury and a catastrophic one comes down to permanence. A standard injury claim covers medical bills and a few months of missed work. A catastrophic claim covers a lifetime of consequences, including round-the-clock care, home modifications, lost earning power, and the loss of things you used to do without thinking. The money at stake is what makes your choice of attorney so important. A serious brain or spinal injury can cost millions of dollars over a lifetime, and insurance companies fight hardest when the payout is largest. You need a lawyer who can calculate future costs accurately and stand up to a defense team built to lower your number. Get this wrong, and you carry the shortfall for the rest of your life. How to Evaluate a Wrongful Death or Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Start with trial experience, because most personal injury firms settle every case and never see a courtroom. Ask the lawyer directly how many wrongful death or catastrophic injury cases they have taken to verdict. Insurance companies track which attorneys try cases and which fold, and that record shapes every settlement offer you receive. Look at case type focus next. A firm that handles slip-and-falls, traffic tickets, and fatal accidents in equal measure splits its attention. You want a lawyer who builds severe injury and death cases regularly and knows the medical experts these claims demand. Resources matter because catastrophic cases cost money to prove. Expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, and life-care planners can run into six figures before trial. Ask whether the firm funds litigation out of pocket so you never pay costs upfront. Communication style decides how the months ahead feel. Ask who answers when you call. Some firms hand your case to a paralegal after the first meeting, and you deserve to know whether the attorney you hired will actually work your file. Finally, confirm the fee structure in writing. Reputable wrongful death and catastrophic injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover money for you. Ask what percentage they charge and whether costs come out before or after the fee is calculated. Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Los Angeles The best wrongful death lawyers in Los Angeles win at trial, not just at the settlement table. Insurance companies track which firms actually take cases to a jury, and they pay more to settle with attorneys who have real verdicts behind them. A lawyer who has never tried a wrongful death case to verdict gives an adjuster little reason to offer full value. Resources matter as much as courtroom skill. A serious fatal accident case can cost six figures in accident reconstruction experts, medical witnesses, and depositions long before any money comes in. Top firms front those costs without asking your family for a dime, then recover them only if they win. Personal attention separates a true advocate from a referral mill. You want the attorney handling your case to know your family's name, return your calls, and explain each decision in plain language. Hakakian Law meets all three standards. Shawn Hakakian tries cases himself, funds the litigation his clients need, and stays directly involved from the first call through resolution. Families work with the same attorney throughout, not a rotating cast of paralegals. You can reach the firm at hakakianlaw.com for a free consultation. Top Catastrophic Injury Attorneys in California Look for a firm that has carried a catastrophic injury case all the way to a jury, not one that settles fast to clear its docket. Insurers track which attorneys try cases, and they value claims differently when the lawyer on the other side has a verdict history. A brain injury or spinal cord case can run for years and require accident reconstructionists, life-care planners, and economists. Your attorney needs the money to fund that work without flinching. Hakakian Law handles high-stakes serious injury claims across California, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and severe burns. Shawn Hakakian builds each case for trial from the first week, which forces insurers to take the full lifetime cost of the injury seriously. He works directly with medical and financial experts to document what your recovery will actually require. If you are searching for top catastrophic injury attorneys in California, judge candidates on trial readiness, expert resources, and direct involvement from the lead lawyer. Those three together separate firms that win large injury verdicts from firms that simply file paperwork. Wrongful Death Attorney in Los Angeles Near Me: Why Local Representation Matters A locally based Los Angeles attorney knows the judges, opposing firms, and courtrooms your case will pass through. That familiarity shapes how a lawyer files, argues, and negotiates inside the Los Angeles Superior Court system. An out-of-area firm has to learn those rooms while your case runs. Local counsel also draws on local experts. Your attorney can bring in accident reconstructionists, treating physicians, and economists who already work with Los Angeles juries and understand what those juries respond to. If you searched for a wrongful death attorney in Los Angeles near you, proximity matters for a practical reason. You can meet your lawyer in person, hand over documents, and sit across the table during the hardest conversations of the process. Phone calls and video screens carry only so much trust when you are grieving. Hakakian Law works out of Los Angeles and handles serious injury and fatal accident cases throughout the region. Shawn Hakakian meets with families in person and stays reachable as the case moves. You can reach the firm here to set up a free consultation. Why Families Choose Hakakian Law Shawn Hakakian works your case himself. You will not be handed off to a paralegal or a junior associate who learns your family's story from a file. Shawn answers the hard questions, returns your calls, and stands in front of the jury when your case goes to trial. The firm charges nothing unless it wins your case. You pay no upfront fees, no hourly bills, and no costs out of pocket while the case moves forward. Hakakian Law fronts the expenses of investigators, medical experts, and accident reconstructionists, then collects a percentage only when money comes in. A grieving family should never have to choose between paying rent and pursuing justice. Hakakian Law handles the cases that change lives. Fatal accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and amputations all sit at the center of the firm's work. These are not minor fender-benders processed in bulk. Each one demands the time and attention Shawn gives it. You can reach the firm when you need it. Phones are answered by people who understand what you are going through, and consultations are free and offered in person at the Los Angeles office. If you cannot travel, Shawn comes to you. Families choose Hakakian Law because they want a lawyer who treats their loss as more than a case number. What to Do After a Fatal Accident or Catastrophic Injury The hours after a fatal accident or serious injury shape your entire case. A few clear actions protect your family and your right to recover. Get medical care first. Your health and your family's safety come before anything else. Medical records also document the injuries. Preserve evidence. Save photos, vehicle damage, clothing, and the names of any witnesses. Write down what happened while you remember it. Avoid recorded statements. Insurance adjusters will call within days. Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything until a lawyer reviews it. Keep your records. Hold onto medical bills, police reports, and receipts. These show the true cost of your loss. Watch the deadline. California gives most families two years to file. Waiting can cost you the case. Call an attorney early. A lawyer can secure evidence before it disappears. Shawn Hakakian offers a free consultation, so call before you talk to the insurance company. Frequently Asked Questions How much does a wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles cost? Most wrongful death lawyers in Los Angeles work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront. Hakakian Law charges no fee unless it recovers money for your family. The firm advances case costs and collects a percentage of the final recovery, so you risk no out-of-pocket payment to get started. How long does a wrongful death case take in California? A wrongful death case in California can take anywhere from several months to a few years, depending on liability disputes and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Hakakian Law moves cases efficiently while preparing each one as if it will reach a jury. Faster resolution usually follows when the at-fault party knows your lawyer is ready for court. What damages can a catastrophic injury victim recover? A catastrophic injury victim can recover medical bills, lost income, future care costs, and money for pain and reduced quality of life. Hakakian Law builds these claims with medical and economic experts to capture lifetime costs. Full documentation protects you from settling for less than your future actually requires. Can I still file if the at-fault party has limited insurance? Yes. Hakakian Law looks beyond the at-fault party for additional sources of recovery, including your own underinsured motorist coverage. Identifying every available policy often means the difference between a token payout and real financial security. Conclusion Losing someone you love or facing a life-altering injury leaves you with questions no one prepared you to answer. Shawn Hakakian takes those cases personally and handles each one himself, not through a junior associate. You pay nothing unless he wins, and the first conversation costs you nothing at all. Call Hakakian Law today for a free consultation. Tell us what happened, and we will tell you honestly where you stand and what comes next. You focus on your family. We will handle the fight.

A car accident in Los Angeles leaves you hurt, confused, and fielding calls from insurers who do not have your interests in mind. You have rights, and you have a clear path to compensation. Hakakian Law takes car accident cases on contingency, so you owe no fee unless you win. Shawn Hakakian handles your case personally rather than handing it to a junior associate. This guide walks you through what to do after a crash, how California fault rules decide who pays, the damages you can recover, and why a lawyer changes the outcome. If you were injured and feel overwhelmed, start here and call when you are ready. You Were Just in a Car Accident. Now What? Your ears are still ringing. Maybe your neck hurts, maybe your hands won't stop shaking, and somewhere in the chaos your phone is already buzzing with a call from an insurance company. You're hurt, you're confused, and someone is asking you to make decisions you have no business making right now. A lot of people in this moment decide to handle it alone. They figure the crash was minor, the adjuster sounds friendly, and a quick settlement will make the whole thing go away. That instinct costs accident victims money every single day. The insurance company that called you works to protect its own bottom line. Its adjusters get paid to close your claim for as little as possible, and they are good at it. They are not on your side, no matter how polite they sound on the phone. This guide breaks down what you actually need to know after a crash in Los Angeles. It explains your rights, California's fault rules, and the damages you can recover, all in plain language. Shawn Hakakian reads these cases himself and talks to the people he represents. The first consultation is free, you pay nothing upfront, and reaching out costs you nothing. What Does a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer Actually Do? A Los Angeles car accident lawyer fights to recover the money you're owed after a crash someone else caused. You focus on healing. Your lawyer handles the fight with the insurance company, the paperwork, and the deadlines that decide whether you collect anything at all. Here is what that work looks like in practice. Investigates the accident and gathers evidence. Your lawyer pulls the police report, photos, witness statements, and medical records to prove who caused the crash. Handles all communication with insurance adjusters. You stop taking calls designed to trip you up. Every conversation runs through someone who knows the tactics. Calculates the full value of your claim. A good lawyer counts future medical costs and lost earning capacity, not just the bills sitting on your kitchen table. Negotiates settlements or takes the case to trial. Insurers pay more when they know your attorney is ready to stand in front of a jury. Works on contingency. You pay nothing unless you win. Most crash victims accept far less than their case is worth because they have no way to know the real number. The adjuster does know, and rarely volunteers it. A lawyer closes that gap. 7 Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Los Angeles The choices you make in the first hours after a crash shape what your case looks like months later. Evidence disappears fast. Witnesses leave, injuries get worse, and insurers start building a record they can use against you. Work through these seven steps in order, and you give yourself the strongest possible footing. Step 1: Call 911 and Get a Police Report Call 911 from the scene, even for a crash that looks minor. The responding officer creates an official record of what happened, who was involved, and the conditions at the time. That police report becomes a foundation for your insurance claim and any lawsuit that follows. Ask the officer for the report number before you leave, since you will need it to request a copy later. Step 2: Seek Medical Attention Immediately See a doctor the same day, even if you feel fine. Whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries often hide their symptoms for hours or days while adrenaline masks the pain. Your medical records connect each injury directly to the crash, which is exactly the link an insurer needs to honor your claim. Wait a week to get checked, and the adjuster will argue your injuries came from something else. Step 3: Document the Scene Pull out your phone and photograph everything before vehicles get moved. Capture the damage to both cars, the position of each vehicle, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get the names and phone numbers of every witness standing nearby, because their accounts can settle a fault dispute later. Note the traffic signals, the weather, and any skid marks that show how the crash unfolded. Step 4: Exchange Information (But Don't Admit Fault) Trade information with the other driver, but watch what you say. Collect their driver's license details, insurance carrier, policy number, and license plate. Never say "I'm sorry" or suggest the crash was your fault, because a casual apology gets twisted into an admission an insurer will hold against you. Stick to plain facts when you talk to the police and describe only what you saw. Step 5: Report to Your Insurance — Carefully Report the crash to your own insurer promptly, but guard your words. You have a duty to notify your carrier, and skipping that step can jeopardize your coverage. Decline to give a recorded statement on your own, because adjusters mine those recordings for any phrase that lets them shrink your payout. Talk to a lawyer before you sign anything or accept a settlement offer. Step 6: Track All Your Losses Start a paper trail the day of the crash and keep adding to it. Save every receipt for medical bills, prescriptions, and the gas or rideshare fares you spend getting to appointments. Write down each workday you miss and the income you lose. Keep a short daily journal of your pain levels and the things your injuries stop you from doing, since those notes support your claim for pain and suffering. Step 7: Call a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer Call a Los Angeles car accident lawyer before the trail goes cold. A free consultation costs you nothing and shows you what your case is actually worth and how to protect it. Hakakian Law works on contingency, so you pay no out-of-pocket fees and owe nothing unless you recover. The sooner you call, the fresher your evidence and the stronger your position against the insurance company. California Fault Rules: Who Pays After a Crash? California runs an at-fault system, which means the driver who caused the crash pays for the damage. If another driver ran the red light and hit you, their insurance owes you. The state does not split costs equally regardless of who caused the wreck. California also follows a rule called pure comparative fault. You can recover money even when you share part of the blame. Your payout drops by your share of fault, but it never disappears entirely. Say a jury finds you 20 percent responsible for a collision because you were speeding slightly when another driver turned in front of you. You still recover 80 percent of your total damages. On a $100,000 claim, that comes to $80,000. Insurance companies know this rule and use it against you. Adjusters push to assign you a higher fault percentage because every point they pin on you shrinks what they pay. A claim worth $100,000 at zero fault becomes $60,000 if they convince a jury you were 40 percent to blame. Hakakian Law digs into the evidence before the insurer locks in a story. Shawn Hakakian reviews the police report, witness accounts, and scene photos to challenge inflated fault assignments. That investigation protects the value of your claim when the other side tries to shift blame onto you. You also face a deadline. California gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim. Miss it, and the court can throw your case out no matter how strong it is. What Damages Can You Recover After a Los Angeles Car Accident? Most accident victims settle for far less than their case is worth because they only count the bills sitting on the kitchen table. California law lets you recover a wider range of losses than the medical invoices and the repair estimate. Compensation breaks into three categories, and knowing each one is the difference between a quick lowball check and a settlement that actually covers what the crash cost you. Economic Damages Economic damages cover the losses you can prove with a receipt or a paycheck. You can claim medical bills already paid and the cost of future treatment your doctors expect, including surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing care. Lost wages count too, along with reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit the work you can do going forward. Add the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any rental car you needed while it sat in the shop. Non-Economic Damages Non-economic damages compensate you for harm that no invoice captures. Pain and suffering covers the physical toll of the injury itself, from the broken bones to the months of recovery. Emotional distress and anxiety often follow a serious crash, and California law recognizes these as real, compensable injuries. You can also claim loss of enjoyment of life when your injuries keep you from the activities, hobbies, and relationships that made your days worth living. Punitive Damages Punitive damages punish the at-fault driver rather than simply repaying you. A California court awards them only when the driver acted with gross negligence or outright recklessness. Drunk driving, street racing, and hit-and-run cases are the classic examples where these damages come into play. They show up far less often than economic and non-economic damages, but when a judge or jury grants them, they can dwarf the rest of the award. Shawn Hakakian pursues punitive damages whenever the facts support them. Types of Car Accident Cases Hakakian Law Handles Crashes in Los Angeles take many forms, and each one changes how a claim gets built. Hakakian Law represents injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians across every common collision type in the LA area. The crash type drives the investigation, the evidence, and the insurers you face. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions are the most common crash type on LA roads, from stop-and-go on the 405 to surface streets in Mid-City. California law presumes the rear driver failed to keep a safe following distance, which usually puts fault on them. That presumption still needs evidence to hold up against an insurer. T-Bone and Intersection Crashes T-bone and intersection crashes turn on who had the right of way, and both drivers often blame each other. Hakakian Law treats the investigation as the case. Side-impact crashes also hit occupants where vehicles offer the least protection, so injuries tend to be severe. Freeway and Highway Accidents Freeway and highway crashes happen at speeds that produce serious, lasting injuries. The speed alone raises the medical and financial stakes of your claim. More than one party may share liability, including other drivers and CALTRANS when road design or maintenance played a role. Rideshare Accidents (Uber/Lyft) Rideshare crashes stack multiple insurance policies on top of each other. Uber's coverage, the driver's personal policy, and a third-party motorist's insurance can all apply depending on when the crash happened. Hakakian Law sorts out which carrier owes what and pursues each one. Hit-and-Run Accidents When a driver flees the scene, your own Uninsured Motorist coverage may pay for your injuries. California sets specific rules for filing a UM claim, and your own insurer often resists. Hakakian Law files these claims correctly and pushes back on lowball offers. Drunk or Distracted Driver Accidents Drunk and distracted driving cases carry the weight of criminal conduct, which can support punitive damages on top of your regular compensation. The police report and any toxicology records become central evidence. Hakakian Law secures those records early and builds the case around them. Why Hire Hakakian Law for Your Los Angeles Car Accident Case? When you call Hakakian Law, Shawn Hakakian works your case himself. You won't get handed off to a paralegal or a junior associate you've never met. The same attorney who reviews your file at intake is the one who negotiates with the insurer and stands up in court if it comes to that. The firm takes car accident cases on contingency. You pay nothing upfront, and you owe no fee unless Shawn recovers money for you. Your first consultation costs nothing and carries no obligation to hire him. You can lay out what happened, hear your options, and decide from there. Shawn knows the Los Angeles courts, the insurers who operate here, and the way crashes actually unfold across the county. He has seen how adjusters from specific carriers lowball claims and how local juries respond to certain injuries. That knowledge shapes how he values your case and where he pushes back. He prepares every case as if it will go to trial. Insurers offer more when they believe the lawyer across the table is ready to file and litigate. A firm that always settles signals weakness, and adjusters price their offers accordingly. Shawn builds the evidence and the trial posture early, which strengthens your position even when the case never reaches a courtroom. You will always know where your case stands. Shawn returns calls, explains each step in plain terms, and tells you the truth about timelines and likely outcomes. You won't chase your attorney for updates or wonder what is happening with your claim. Hakakian Law represents injured people across Los Angeles County and the surrounding areas. Whether your crash happened on the 405, in a Downtown intersection, or on a quiet street in the Valley, Shawn can take your case. Call for a free consultation and find out what your claim is worth. Summary: Your Los Angeles Car Accident Legal Guide Here is everything this guide covers, distilled into a quick reference you can scan before you call. Topic Key Takeaway What to do after a crash Document the scene, seek medical care, and call a lawyer fast. California fault rules California is an at-fault state and applies pure comparative negligence. Recoverable damages You can claim medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. How a lawyer helps An attorney investigates the crash, negotiates with insurers, and maximizes your claim value. Hakakian Law's model Free consultation, contingency fee, and personal attention from Shawn Hakakian. A car accident throws your life into chaos, and the insurance company is already building its case against you. You do not have to face that alone. Shawn Hakakian handles your claim personally, fights for every dollar you are owed, and charges nothing unless he wins. Call Hakakian Law today for a free consultation. There is no fee unless you win. How We Built This Guide We wrote this guide from the questions injured LA residents actually ask Shawn Hakakian during free consultations. Those questions shaped every section, from what to do at the scene to how California assigns fault. The legal substance rests on California personal injury law and the patterns we see in Los Angeles crashes. We reviewed the tactics insurers use against people who do not have a lawyer yet. Recorded statements, lowball first offers, and fault disputes show up again and again, so we addressed each one directly. The steps and timelines here mirror how Hakakian Law runs its intake and handles cases. Nothing in this guide is generic boilerplate copied from another state. We checked the deadlines and fault rules against current California law. That includes the two-year statute of limitations and the pure comparative fault standard that governs how much you can recover. Frequently Asked Questions: Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer What does a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles do? A car accident lawyer investigates your crash, gathers evidence, and builds the case that proves who caused your injuries. Hakakian Law handles every conversation with the insurance company so you never face an adjuster alone. The firm fights for the full value of your claim, whether that comes through a settlement or a trial verdict. How much does it cost to hire Hakakian Law? Hakakian Law charges nothing to talk through your case in the initial consultation. The firm works on a contingency fee, which means you pay only when you recover money. You owe no upfront retainer and no out-of-pocket legal fees while the case is open. How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California? California gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim. Claims against a government vehicle or agency carry much shorter deadlines, sometimes as little as six months. Call a lawyer quickly so a missed deadline never ends your claim before it starts. What if I was partially at fault for the accident? California follows pure comparative fault, so partial blame does not bar your recovery. You can still collect damages even if you share responsibility for the crash. Your payout drops by your percentage of fault, so a 20 percent share leaves 80 percent of your damages on the table for you to recover. How much is my car accident case worth? Case value depends on the severity of your injuries, your lost income, and your share of fault. Non-economic damages like pain and suffering count toward the total alongside your medical bills. Hakakian Law calculates the full value of your claim during your free consultation. What should I NOT say to the insurance adjuster? Never admit fault or apologize at the scene, because adjusters treat those words as evidence against you. Decline any recorded statement until a lawyer reviews your case. Refuse the first settlement offer until an attorney confirms it reflects what your claim is actually worth. How quickly can I expect a settlement? Straightforward cases can resolve in a few weeks to a few months. Serious injury cases take longer because rushing them sacrifices money you are owed. A fast settlement usually means an underpaid one. Why choose Hakakian Law over a large LA injury firm? Shawn Hakakian works your case himself rather than handing it to a paralegal. You reach your attorney directly throughout the process. The contingency model ties his payment to your result, so his success depends on yours.