California Personal Injury Blog

Los Angeles news reports show that a local resident died early the morning of September 20 after a Metrolink train hit the individual at Jurupa Avenue between the Riverside and Pedley stations while passing through the greater Los Angeles metro area.

Just before 5:00 a.m., officials reported the accident, which many Los Angeles television stations have picked up. The reports do not include any news of injuries to passengers. Details are not completely clear on the Metrolink accident. Passenger rerouting caused some delays on the morning commute.

Tragic accidents like this one often affect commuters and others across the greater Los Angeles area. Sometimes, inattention to safety, improper driver training, lack of barriers or safety equipment or other negligence can contribute to injuries or fatalities in suburban or urban Los Angeles. Public transit, though very much needed, can include some significant dangers and risks. Every so often, a family ends up seeking qualified Los Angeles legal representation for a wrongful death case that involves public transit or some other aspect of public health and safety.

If someone you love has experienced death in an accident in the Southern California area, the Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer Samer Habbas can help. Mr. Habbas has a long track record of providing caring, compassionate legal representation to families grappling with the passing of a loved one. Call The Law Offices of Samer Habbas at 888-848-5084 today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

The Los Angeles County Coroner has examined a recent case of a man found dead in an LAX bathroom and pronounced it a suicide, according to recent news reports from KTLA Los Angeles. The coroner called it a suicide even though the man had a plastic bag over his head and his hands were bound.

Police found Dominico Doy Nguyen, 35, on the morning of September 22, slumped over in the airport bathroom. He was apparently dead as a result of asphyxiation. Officials have identified Nguyen as an immigrant who arrived in America in the 1970s.
The suspicious details of this case have led many to question whether Nguyen’s death was indeed a suicide. Few details have surfaced so far, but further news on this case is likely to develop. Every so often, the initial pronouncement of a coroner is open to reversal when subsequent findings show that a suicide actually involved foul play.

When families in Los Angeles and around Southern California are grieving during situations like this one, many turn to personal injury and wrongful death lawyers who can help them identify any causal factors in the death of a family member. Attorneys assist with fact-finding and research to look for any possible indications of a wrongful death.

If your family is facing this kind of tragedy, call The Law Offices of Samer Habbas. This professional wrongful death lawyer has represented many clients in similar situations. Mr. Habbas will treat your case with the utmost care and compassion, helping you to get what you deserve under the law. Call us at 888-848-5084 today, and get an experienced wrongful death lawyer working for you.

It’s been a little more than a year since the death of superstar Michael Jackson here in Los Angeles. The case is a source of interest to many of the wrongful death lawyers at The Law Offices of Samer Habbas who grew up listening to the music of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.

Many consider Jackson’s death a wrongful death case caused by his doctor’s negligence. Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered the powerful drug Propofol to help him sleep. However, Propofol caused his death instead.

For the last year, there have been countless news articles about Michael Jackson’s accidental death. Some of the stories have inadvertently passed along incorrect information about wrongful death lawsuits in Southern California. In order to dispel any misconceptions you may have, we’d like to make you aware of some facts:

Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit?

An immediate family member such as a spouse, domestic partner or child can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Parents, brothers and sisters or grandparents can make a claim for wrongful death if the victim was unmarried and childless.

When can you file a wrongful death lawsuit?

Each state’s statute of limitations specifies the length of time in which one must file a lawsuit for wrongful death. One must file a California wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the victim’s death or the discovery of the injury causing the death. In the case of a wrongful death lawsuit filed against a doctor, like Jackson’s, a person must file within one year.

What type of damages can one recover in a wrongful death lawsuit?

Compensation for wrongful death cases includes burial or funeral costs, medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of service to the family, loss of earning potential and loss of pension.

If you have any other questions about the wrongful death of a loved one in Southern California and Los Angeles, contact The Law Offices of Samer Habbas. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case. Call us today at 888.848.5084.

The California wrongful death attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas place an emphasis on client education so that their clients may make informed decisions about which course of action will be best for them. While our Orange County wrongful death attorneys can answer many questions during a free consultation, many clients struggling with the loss of a loved one want to know the same things. To that end, here are some wrongful death FAQs answered by our experienced Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys:

What is wrongful death?

Wrongful death is the result of a person engaging in wrongful actions that caused the death of another person such as reckless driving, driving while drunk or high, deliberately intending to murder someone and other acts of negligence and recklessness.

Aren’t murder and wrongful death the same thing?

From a legal standpoint, no. Murders trials are criminal lawsuits while wrongful death cases are determined by civil lawsuits.

Who can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit?

Laws differ from state to state, but in California, the people who may file a wrongful death lawsuit include the following: “The victim’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and offspring of deceased children, or, if there are no surviving children of the victim, the persons, including the surviving spouse or domestic partner, who would be entitled to the property of the victim by intestate succession (a person dying without a will).”

Is there a time limit for filing wrongful death claims?

Wrongful death statutes of limitations vary from state to state. In California, those wishing to file a wrongful death lawsuit have two years from the date of the incident or accident that caused the wrongful death.

To receive specific answers to your wrongful death questions, contact the California wrongful death lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas today at 888.848.5084 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.