Sergio Navas, 36-years-old, died on March 5, 2015. The incident began when two LAPD officers spotted a gold 2003 Mercury Sable bearing paper license plates. The car had been reported stolen an it appeared to be driven erratically. The police started to follow the car, and at that moment, the individual driving it increased speed and fled. The officers pursued, and a six-minute chase ended when their cruiser and the suspect’s vehicle collided.

The police officer in the cruiser’s passenger seat opened fire. The driver of the car with the paper plates exited his vehicle and ran toward an alley entrance situated a few feet from the scene of the crash. A foot chase ensued with no further shots fired. Navas was apprehended, brought down and cuffed on the sidewalk, where he died. First responders pronounced Navas dead at the scene. It was the second fatal shooting by the LAPD in four days.

The claim filed against the City of Los Angeles and Officer Brian Van Gordon seeks punitive damages, survival and general damages, loss of financial support and funeral and burial expenses.

The statement of claim for his family’s lawsuit alleges that Navas in no way presented as a threat to the police officer at the time of the shooting — that Officer Van Gordon was not at risk for his life or serious bodily injury.

Further allegations involve a claim of failure to call for medical assistance, battery, negligence and false arrest and imprisonment.

The Navas family may wish to look into applying for litigation funding to help pay the expenses that resulted from this sudden death. A lawsuit loan assists struggling plaintiffs to pay their usual financial obligations— such as mortgage, rent, car or student loans — as well as those incurred for the loss of a family member.

Also referred to as pre-settlement funding, the lawsuit loan, placed directly in the plaintiff’s bank account, may be used for anything. But most approved applicants take care of their immediate bills, such a funeral and burial expenses. Cases like the wrongful death suit filed by Navas’ Family may take a long time to get to court and are sometimes even settled on the steps of the courthouse. In the meantime, pre-settlement funding, would give the family the financial assistance to help them manage day-to-day while waiting for a resolution to their case.

Daren Monroe writes for Litigation Funding Corp. To learn more about lawsuit funding and litigation funding, visit http://www.litigationfundingcorp.com/.