UCLA-Trained Attorneys in Woodland Hills
When a family member dies because someone else was careless, reckless, or negligent, California law gives certain surviving family members the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit under CCP Section 377.60. That includes a surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and in some cases, anyone who was financially dependent on the person who died. A separate survival action under CCP Section 377.30 lets the estate recover damages the deceased person could have pursued if they had lived.
Arya handles these cases in Woodland Hills because families here deserve someone who will explain the process without rushing them. The insurance company on the other side is already building its defense. They are pulling records, interviewing witnesses, and preparing to minimize what they owe. You need someone doing the same thing on your side, and doing it right now.
Born and Raised in Woodland Hills
I didn't just relocate here to open a law office. I grew up here. El Camino Real High School, UCLA Law School. I still live in Woodland Hills today, spending weekends biking and hiking in the Las Virgenes Canyons near Valley Circle and Victory, playing in a basketball league at Crunch Fitness off Shoup and Sherman Way. On a good night you'll find me at Local Peasant on Ventura. When I say I know this neighborhood, it's not a marketing line. It's literally where I grew up, and where I still live.
What Shapes an Injury Case Here
Every case starts with the same questions: which roads were involved, which hospital treated you, which court will hear it, and what deadlines apply. Here is what we already know about Woodland Hills cases before you even call.
California law allows surviving spouses, children, and — in some cases — other dependents to file a civil wrongful death claim for the negligent, reckless, or intentional killing of a family member. This is a separate claim from any criminal prosecution.
A survival action (CCP §377.30) allows the estate to recover damages the deceased could have claimed if they had survived — including pain and suffering experienced before death. Both claims can run simultaneously and are often pursued together.
What Makes Your Injury Case Different
Westfield Topanga and The Village are two of the highest-traffic retail complexes in the West Valley. If you were hurt at either one, you are not dealing with a mom-and-pop landlord. These are corporate properties with professional claims teams who contest everything. Getting the property's prior incident history before it gets buried is part of how we build these cases.
Warner Center is full of offices and commercial buildings, which is actually good news if you were hurt there. These businesses carry real insurance, not the state minimum. That means there is more money available to cover your injuries than you would see in a typical residential case.
Crashes on Topanga Canyon Blvd are a different animal. When road design or poor maintenance contributes to a collision, Caltrans or LA County can be named as defendants. But government claims come with strict notice deadlines. Miss them and your case is dead, even if the road was clearly at fault.
Everything from this area files at Chatsworth Courthouse. We have tried cases there. We know the judges and we know what West Valley juries expect.
Where the Crashes Happen
The 101 through Woodland Hills is relentless during rush hour. The Topanga Canyon interchange forces drivers to merge at freeway speed into backed-up traffic, and the result is a steady stream of rear-end collisions. These are not low-speed bumps. We regularly see herniated discs, concussions, and soft tissue injuries that do not show up on imaging for weeks.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard has blind curves, steep grades, and narrow shoulders. Ventura Boulevard has the pedestrian density and distracted driving. De Soto and Valley Circle get the school zone and residential crashes. Each street has a different pattern and a different set of defendants.
We have represented people hit by rideshare drivers pulling illegal U-turns near Westfield Topanga, cyclists struck on Topanga Canyon, families in school zone collisions near El Camino Real, and pedestrians crossing at uncontrolled intersections on Ventura. The common thread is that these cases all required someone who could start working the same day.
Crash Data
Most Dangerous Intersections
Recent Crashes
Compensation Available in Your Case
California wrongful death damages are not limited to funeral expenses. The law recognizes the full scope of what your family has lost, financial and personal. Here is what is recoverable.
Funeral & Burial Expenses
All reasonable funeral, burial, and cremation costs your family has incurred because of this wrongful death.
Lost Financial Support
The income and financial support your loved one would have provided over their remaining working life. Many Woodland Hills families depend on two incomes to afford the West Hills area, and this loss is calculable.
Loss of Household Services
Cooking, childcare, home maintenance, and other daily contributions your loved one handled. We quantify what it costs to replace them.
Loss of Companionship
The love, guidance, and emotional support your family has permanently lost. California law recognizes this harm and puts a dollar value on it.
Pre-Death Pain & Suffering
Through a survival action, compensation for the pain and fear your loved one endured before passing. This is especially significant in 101 freeway crashes where victims survive the initial impact.
Punitive Damages
When death results from drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or intentional conduct, punitive damages punish the wrongdoer beyond compensatory amounts.
Call us Today. No fee until you win!
818-224-7940Steps for Wrongful Death Families
Wrongful death claims involve both legal process and profound personal grief. We guide families through both with discretion and determination.
Prioritize your family's wellbeing
Your family comes first. Legal steps can wait until you're ready. There is time to grieve before anything needs to be filed.
Preserve all documentation
Gather the death certificate, police reports, medical records, and any communications from insurance companies or the responsible party.
Do not accept any payment or release
Insurers sometimes approach Woodland Hills families quickly with lowball offers. Don't sign anything before talking to a lawyer.
Document financial dependence
Tax returns, pay stubs, mortgage contributions, and records showing how your family relied on your loved one's income.
Contact Westwood Law
Arya Firoozmand handles wrongful death cases with care and urgency. The 2-year statute of limitations applies, and evidence from 101 crashes or West Hills Hospital records must be preserved early.