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Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are complex injuries that affect each individual differently. A brain injury can cause memory loss, cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioral changes, and other changes
Car Accidents
Being in an auto accident is scary. After the crash, you have your health and your vehicle to take care of. And, if you just had those two things to worry about, it might not be so bad. But, you also have to deal with
Catastrophic Injuries
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident caused by negligence and are facing numerous financial burdens, long-term health care costs, expensive therapy and rehabilitation
Commercial Vehicles
Accidents involving a commercial vehicle often result in serious, life-changing injuries. Commercial vehicles are often very large. When one of these vehicles collides with a smaller passenger vehicle, the results can be
Motorcycle Accidents
If you suffered injury in an accident while riding your motorcycle and the motorcycle crash was caused by another motorist’s negligence, you could qualify for financial compensation
Passenger Injuries
Have you suffered serious motorcycle injuries as a driver or passenger in California? Was a loved one injured or killed while a passenger in a motor vehicle driven by a negligent motorist?
Pedestrian Accidents
Proving negligence in pedestrian accident cases can be a challenge, given factors such as crosswalks and walking paths. Also, people on bicycles and on foot are often victims of hit-and-run accidents
Personal Injury
Have you been injured in an accident caused by negligence? Has a family member suffered a catastrophic injury such as traumatic brain injury that will require years of expensive medical treatment and therapy?
Rideshare Accidents
Insurance coverage is always a primary consideration when making a personal injury claim after an accident in an Uber or Lyft vehicle. With the popularity of ridesharing services skyrocketing in California
Slip & Fall Accidents
When negligence by a property owner, manager or landlord leads to a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident that results in an injury to you, take action immediately before your lost wages and medical bills pile up.
Trucking Accidents
Causes of commercial trucking accidents include trucker fatigue, distracted driving, alcohol use, shifting loads, inadequately trained drivers and improperly maintained vehicles in need of repair.
Wrongful Death
If the negligence of a motorist has led to sudden tragedy for your family, a fatal car accident, a drunk driving death — the caring Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Law Offices of John C. Ye can help
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Attorneys
Personal Injury Attorney

John C. Ye

John C. Ye Attorney John C. Ye, born in South Korea on July 14, 1966, immigrated to the United States at the age of six. In 1988 Mr. Ye earned his B.A. degree

Personal Injury Attorney

Aldie Martinez

Aldie Martinez Aldie Martinez was born and raised in the Philippines. In 2011, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science

Personal Injury Attorney

Eugene M. Genson

Eugene M Genson Gene Genson was born in Chicago, Illinois. Gene received his B.A. degree in History from UCLA in 1964 and his J.D. degree from UCLA Law School

Personal Injury Attorney

Raymond Feldman, Esq.

Raymond Feldman Esq. Raymond Feldman is a litigator having handled a wide variety of civil, criminal and administrative matters in both state and federal courts

Personal Injury Attorney

Thomas Michael McGreal

Thomas Michael McGreal Personal Injury Attorney - Education University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, Honolulu, Hawaii J.D., Doctor of

Personal Injury Attorney

Garth Matthew Drozin

Garth Matthew Drozin Garth Drozin has practiced law in California for 33 years, since 1987, having graduated from Southwestern University School of Law

Personal Injury Attorney

Joseph Charles Dayball III

Joseph Charles Dayball Joseph C. Dayball has represented clients in a wide variety of civil and criminal matters in both state and federal courts

Samuel Choo

“Samuel (“Sam”) Choo was born and raised in Koreatown, Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Taxation.

Allan L. Dollison

Allan L. Dollison was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Newport Beach, CA where he attended school before graduating with a Bachelors degree from Cal State Fullerton.

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Reviews

angel Garcia

Would highly recommend this law office they are very professional especially Ryan that took care of my case she was on top of everything from the start to the finish.

a year ago

Daniel Chavez

This firm was recommended by a family friend and has provided the best experience I have ever had with an attorney. I had the pleasure to work with Nancy Bellinger, who made the process so much easier and understandable. I highly recommend not only her services, but the firm as a whole for their great service and willingness to help.

6 months ago

pablo gamez

This law office was able to help me out a lot especially through this difficult time we are experiencing. My questions and concerns were answered from Stephanie Park and she was very thorough while explaining it to me. I would highly recommend this law office!

6 months ago

Angela Garcia

We worked with Ryan Pacheco and she was fabulous! Settled everything in 6 months in our favor and was able to negotiate to get us money back. She was recommended to us by a friend and we will definitely be referring her to other friends if they ever have a need for a lawyer.

a year ago

Elizabeth Ramirez

Writing on behalf of their client Ismael Ramirez, my father loved the offices of John C Ye are amazing! they are on top of their game and great at communicating with clients. they get the job done! definitely recommend. Sylvia De Anda was by far the best and loved doing business with them!

5 months ago

Amanda Perez

This place helped me out when I did not know what to do with my case. Im happy with our results and will recommend this law office to everyone I know! Thank you so much. Please continue on the good work you guys do!

10 months ago
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What are the top causes of truck accidents?
Commercial trucks on the road in California are made of several tons of steel that could easily destroy a passenger vehicle in an accident. To protect
Deadliest rural crashes involve agricultural equipment
Drivers in California who are traveling in rural areas will want to be careful around agricultural equipment like tractors. Though rural areas contain only 19%
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Many people cherish their time on two wheels as a break from sitting in cars and for the ability to enjoy the open air on special trips and outings. Other people find that riding a motorcycle offers them the ability to save money on their daily commute
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
Because of the year-round pleasant weather and abundant sunshine, riding a motorcycle in California can be a lot of fun. However, motorcycle accidents are often
Does poor maintenance lead to truck accidents?
An incalculable number of trucks travel through the state of California without any problems. However, incidents of trucks involved in accidents do raise alarms
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Autumn can be a treacherous time of year for drivers in California, but some dangers will be more pronounced in other states.
The lesser known world of drunk driving
It's something that many of us will either be tempted to do or have actually done in the past. Drunk driving is something that many who have been involved in
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Injured? our attorneys can help you.

Wrongful Death

If the negligence of a motorist has led to sudden tragedy for your family, a fatal car accident, a drunk driving death — the caring Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Law Offices of John C. Ye can help

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Experienced Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorneys

If the negligence of a motorist has led to sudden tragedy for your family — a fatal car accident, a drunk driving death — the caring Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Law Offices of John C. Ye, A Professional Law Corporation, can help.

We have more than 25 years of experience in handling wrongful death legal matters with dedication and decorum. He and his associates will be aggressive in pursuit of your rights and interests and respectful of your emotions throughout the legal process.

The sudden, tragic death of a loved one due to an accident caused by negligence is the most devastating loss that an individual or family can endure. Our compassionate attorneys will handle every aspect of your wrongful death claim. We acknowledge that a compensation award or financial settlement offer by an insurer can never replace a loved one, but it can bring finality to your ordeal and help you move on.

Since wrongful death is far and away the most serious of all accident personal injury situations, you may be entitled to a broad range of financial compensation: for medical bills; loss of financial support for survivors; pain and suffering prior to death; loss of services; loss of society, comfort, care and companionship; funeral expenses; and other compensation.

Please call us at 877-278-6890 to discuss the details of your wrongful death case.

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Aggressively Protecting Your Rights; Sensitive To Your Emotions

We deliver quality, experienced legal services to Southern California families who have lost loved ones due to:

  • Auto accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • DUI accidents
  • Distracted driving accidents
  • Passenger injuries
  • Mass transit accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Motorized Scooter Accidents
  • Catastrophic injuries that become fatal

In handling the legal side of your family’s tragedy, we are all about convenience, comfort, confidentiality and closure for you and your loved ones. The contingency fee basis for our work means that you owe no attorney fee unless your case is settled successfully.

We welcome the opportunity to serve you at this difficult time in your life, in any way we can, with the resolve that will get results and respect for your emotions.

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Contact Law Offices of John C. Ye, A Professional Law Corporation

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Recent Injury Settlements

$5,000,000.00

Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim Involving a Minor

$2,444,244.00

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$2,250,000.00

Truck Accident Claim

$1,750,000.00

Rideshare Accident Claim

$1,499.000.00

Pedestrian Accident Claim

$675,000.00

Burn Injury Claim

serious injuries deserve a serious lawyer

We Fight The Insurance Companies, So YOU Don't Have To. We've Won 300+ Million in Damages for Our Los Angeles Area Clients.

We will help you identify all potentially liable parties and fight for the compensation you deserve to pay for medical care, along with compensation for your lost income, emotional distress, and other damages.

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We Have Over 900+ Google Reviews with an Overall Rating of 4.9

Jose Luis Garcia

Jose Luis Garcia

Great service and friendliness

a year ago
Diannaa Garcia

Diannaa Garcia

Nancy and Henry helped me so much with my car accident to be quite honest I was scared and very vulnerable but they made an easy comfortable experience out of a bad situation thank you so much for all that you have both done to get me through my settlement

a month ago
Jose Barrios

Jose Barrios

I highly recommend LAW OFFICES OF JOHN C. Alex Gonzales was the person who helped me and my stepdaughter when we were collided. When you have questions about something, it is always tempting. Alex Gonzales is a trained person and quick to help you.

a week ago
64 Rafa

64 Rafa

Well recommended. Me Jose Ruiz worked with Sylvia, I recommend you ask for her. Good job.

6 months ago
Lizel M

Lizel M

I loved how I would email Stephanie for any questions I had on my case even threw this whole pandemic she was still letting me know any updates on my case.

6 months ago
Okkyung Lee

Okkyung Lee

I want to thank the Law Office Of John C Ye and Stephanie Park. They were both incredibly professional and helpful with our cases. We are very satisfied with their work ethics and they answered our calls whenever we needed help. Thank you so much for everything!

11 months ago
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Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death in California - How to File and Win Your Lawsuit

On behalf of the attorneys at The Law Offices of John C. Ye, I’d like to take a moment to tell you that we’re so sorry for your loss. We know this is a horrible and challenging time in your life, and we’re going to do our best to help you get through it.

When your loved one dies because of the actions of someone else, it’s called a “wrongful death.” Whether the act was negligent, reckless, or intentional; California’s wrongful death law (Code of Civil Procedure 377.60) allows surviving family members to sue for damages. Some of the most common recoverable damages are for:

  • Loss of companionship and support
  • Loss of income
  • Burial and funeral expenses

A wrongful death lawsuit is often paired with a California “survival” cause of action suit (under CCP 377.30). This type of lawsuit is appropriate if your loved one had expenses after the accident but before passing away. For example, if your spouse was in a very bad car crash and received medical care before passing, you would be eligible to sue and receive compensation for those expenses. 

And, right now, after feeling the extreme loss of losing your loved one unexpectedly, you might think, “So what? In the scheme of things, what difference does it make if I only sue for wrongful death? It can’t be that big of a difference, can it?”

The truth is that filing both a wrongful death lawsuit and a survival cause of action suit will ensure you’re not left broken-hearted, holding a bill for medical care for your loved one months after his or her passing. It’s challenging enough to lose your love in an accident. To receive a bill for medical care that didn’t work is punishing. Then, what would you do if you didn’t have enough money to pay?

You don’t want that to happen. We don’t want that to happen. Below, you’ll find the answers to all your top questions about wrongful death in California, so you can learn how to file (and win) your suit.

When is a wrongdoer liable for a death?

If your loved one died because of a situation that resulted in wrongful death, you might be eligible to sue for compensation. Wrongful death happens when someone else has shown negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing. Some examples are:

  • Car accidents (including any situations such as drunk driving where the driver is impaired)
  • Slip-and-fall accidents
  • Pedestrian “knockdowns”
  • Drowning
  • Elder abuse or neglect
  • Child abuse or neglect
  • Assault and battery
  • Manslaughter or murder
  • Medical malpractice

Basically, if someone did something (either intentionally or accidentally) that resulted in the loss of your loved one, you might be eligible to sue for wrongful death in California—it all depends on your relationship to the deceased.

Who is eligible to sue for wrongful death in California?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60, the following family members (or their representatives) are allowed to file a lawsuit:

  • Surviving spouse
  • Domestic partner
  • Children
  • Grandchildren (if the deceased’s children have also passed away)
  • Step-children or other individuals the deceased may have been caring for
  • Anyone who might be entitled to the deceased’s property under California’s laws and regulations

Think of it this way, if your loved one financially supported you (either fully or partially) or if you’re entitled to his or her property, you’re eligible to sue for wrongful death. This means either you or a legal representative can file a suit on your behalf.

What damages can be recovered in a California wrongful death suit?

When you’re thinking about wrongful death damages, just imagine what life would have been like if your loved one was still with you. Most likely, he or she would have added income and/or provided household services. 

For example, if a partner works a steady job and mows the lawn on weekends, he or she is benefiting the household in two distinct ways. Without your partner, you feel the economic sting of the lost income. Plus, you might have an additional expense of hiring out the lawn care.

But, what you’ll most likely miss the most is just being with your loved one. Missing his or her company is what’s called a “non-economic” damage. When you ask for damages, you should ask for an amount that combines the economic and non-economic damage that you feel.

Economic damages can include estimates of the following items based on the deceased’s past behavior:

  • Income from the deceased
  • Gifts or benefits to heirs
  • Reasonable value for household services provided
  • The actual amounts for the funeral and burial services

Non-economic damages can include monetary estimates for the deceased’s:

  • Companionship
  • Protection
  • Moral support
  • Guidance
  • Affection
  • Sexual relations

Can I ask for punitive damage?

Sometimes in lawsuits, a person can ask for “punitive damage.” This is a dollar amount simply to punish the wrong-doer for their actions. Unfortunately, in wrongful death suits in California, punitive damages don’t apply unless the defendant was convicted of a felony homicide of your loved one.

However, punitive damages may be available through a “survival” action filed by the deceased’s estate.

What is a “survival” action?

In a “survival” action, the heirs of the deceased person can sue on behalf of the estate. This is helpful for three main reasons. First, if the accident left your loved one alive and receiving medical care, there are bills related to that limbo period after the accident but before passing away. When you file a survival action, you’re asking for those bills and debts from that period of time to be covered by the defendant.

Second, if your loved one was in a position where he or she was considering filing a lawsuit before the time of death, the estate is now able to move forward with that. This means you can act on your loved one’s wishes (even if your loved one hadn’t started the process of filing paperwork or finding a lawyer). In a sense, this type of survival action is trying to allow the estate to receive any money it might have otherwise received if your loved one were still alive.

Finally, when you file a “survival” cause of action, you can ask for punitive damages. This means you can request a certain amount of money—not tied to any bills or current outstanding debts from the accident—purely because someone else’s actions caused your loved one to die. 

What is the statute of limitations for a California wrongful death claim?

In California, the statute of limitations on filing a wrongful death claim or survival cause of action is two years. For wrongful death cases, the two-year time period begins on the date of death. For survival actions, the estate has a two-year time limit starting from the latter of: 

  • six months after death 
  • the date of the injury 

Let’s take a look at an example. John’s wife, Mary, was walking their dog when she was hit by a car. The accident put Mary into a coma for two months. Sadly, she passed away yesterday. John has two years from yesterday’s date to file a wrongful death suit against the driver. For a survival action, John has a time period of two years and six months to file (since Mary’s death happened after the date of her injury).

What if I’m outside the statute of limitations?

If you’re outside the statute of limitations for your wrongful death lawsuit, don’t worry. There are situations where you couldn’t have possibly filed on time, and the State of California understands that. 

Some instances where you may still legally file a wrongful death suit or survival action even though you’re technically outside of the statute of limitations are:

  • You don’t learn about your loved one’s death until later. For example, let’s say your adult-aged daughter went missing while she was on a vacation. Unfortunately, two months later, her body was discovered. In this case, your statute of limitations to file any suits would start from the day you learned of her passing. 
  • You don’t learn until later on that the death was wrongful. Let’s say your partner was out jogging and died in front of a business a couple blocks away from your home. Initially, the coroner thought your partner had a heart attack and died. However, once the autopsy was completed, it was discovered that your partner died from injuries sustained while tripping and falling on faulty sidewalk outside of the business. Because you now know your loved one’s death was wrongful, you have two years from the date of your discovery to file a wrongful death suit.
  • You are a minor when your parent passes away. If you are a child, you’re not expected to file lawsuits on behalf of your parent’s estate. Instead, once you turn 18, you have two years to file a wrongful death suit. Your birthdate is the new date to work from when you’re trying to figure out if you’re within the statute of limitations. 

How can I file for wrongful death in California?

There’s nothing that can undo the pain and grief you feel around the loss of your loved one. However, at the Law Offices of John C. Ye, we want to help you to make sure you’re not accidentally putting yourself through more stress and suffering than need be. Understanding the ins and outs of law is tough. There are lots of details and cases that prove why a lawsuit will or won’t hold up in case.

That’s why we’re here to help. Let us file a wrongful death claim on your behalf. We can’t undo what’s been done, but we can help with your current worries, represent you legally, and fight for justice.



Recent Injury Claim Settlements

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Pedestrian Accident Claim

$875,000.00

Car Accident Claim

$675,000.00

Burn Injury Claim

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Commercial Truck Accident Claim

$249,107.00

Slip and Fall Accident Claim

John C. Ye - Managing Partner

Serving diverse people who have been injured in Los Angeles and Throughout Southern California

At Law Offices of John C. Ye, A Professional Law Corporation, our attorneys work with a diverse population of people who have been injured and need to seek damages from the responsible parties.

Our Los Angeles car accident lawyers accommodate our diverse clientele by providing staff members who speak English, Spanish, Tagalog and Korean.

We will cater to your needs,  so your concerns will be heard and understood. We will help you get through this.
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Some Personal Injury Case Types We can Help You With

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Brain Injuries

The Law offices of john c. ye

Brain injuries are complex injuries that affect each individual differently. A brain injury can cause memory loss, cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioral changes, and other changes

Learn more here

Car Accidents

The Law offices of john c. ye

Being in an auto accident is scary. After the crash, you have your health and your vehicle to take care of. And, if you just had those two things to worry about, it might not be so bad. But, you also have to deal with

Learn more here

Motorcycle Accidents

The Law offices of john c. ye

If you suffered injury in an accident while riding your motorcycle and the motorcycle crash was caused by another motorist’s negligence, you could qualify for financial compensation

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Pedestrian Accidents

The Law offices of john c. ye

Proving negligence in pedestrian accident cases can be a challenge, given factors such as crosswalks and walking paths. Also, people on bicycles and on foot are often victims of hit-and-run accidents

Learn more here

Rideshare Accidents

The Law offices of john c. ye

Insurance coverage is always a primary consideration when making a personal injury claim after an accident in an Uber or Lyft vehicle. With the popularity of ridesharing services skyrocketing in California

Learn more here

Wrongful Death

The Law offices of john c. ye

If the negligence of a motorist has led to sudden tragedy for your family, a fatal car accident, a drunk driving death — the caring Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Law Offices of John C. Ye can help

See more injury case types

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