When 37-year-old Norma Guzman was shot and killed by police officers over two years ago, her family filed a suit against the Los Angeles Police Department, stating that the officers in question were aware that she was “mentally challenged and completely harmless” and, as such, did not pose a threat. The suit also referred to a failure on the part of the LAPD to provide sufficient mental health training to officers.
Following a lengthy legal battle, Los Angeles lawmakers have agreed to pay $1.95 million to Mrs. Guzman’s husband and teenage son. Although LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has always stated that the officers followed department protocol, and believed that Mrs. Guzman was approaching them with a knife, the Police Commission found that one of the two police officers involved had not used appropriate tactics, having instead reacted to leaving himself in a vulnerable position.
No criminal charges will be brought against either of the LAPD police officers.
Lost a Loved One to a Fatal Accident You Need a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney
No bereavement is ever easy, and the grief and other emotions associated with loss can be compounded when your loved one has lost their life due to the negligence or deliberate dangerous actions of another person. At JML Law, our Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys have significant experience in helping people like you seek compensation and damages relating to the loss of an immediate family member.
While you may be unsure if your loved one’s death qualifies for wrongful death compensation or, indeed, whether you qualify to claim, we would encourage you to schedule a free initial consultation, where we can discuss your legal options.
To give you a brief overview of what is involved in a successful wrongful death suit, two of the key points you should remember are:
- Where the fatal accident happened at work, a fault is not an issue
- If your loved one was partially at fault for the accident, you may still be entitled to file for wrongful death compensation, however, the damages you recover may be reduced accordingly
Should you qualify to file a wrongful death suit, your Los Angeles attorney could seek damages in respect of:
- Medical costs
- Funeral expenses
- Pain and suffering of the deceased, from the time of injury to the time of death
- Loss of companionship
- Lost income
- Lost future earning capacity, calculated until expected retirement age
When you work with a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney from JML Law, you can rest assured that we will fight aggressively and comprehensively to recover every penny that you are entitled to.
Speak to a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney Today to Get Your Claim Started
Wrongful death compensation claims, like numerous others, have a deadline imposed by California law. With this in mind, you should speak to an esteemed Los Angeles attorney as soon as possible, to enable us to build a strong case on your behalf.
To find out how we can help you, schedule your free initial consultation by calling us today on 818-610-8800.
