If you lost a loved one because of someone else's negligence in California, you generally have two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful-death claim under CCP § 335.1. Wrongful-death actions are brought by surviving family under CCP § 377.60. We handle these cases with the compassion and discretion the situation deserves. No fee unless we win.
There is no right order. Take care of your family first. When you have a moment, these steps will protect the wrongful-death claim while you grieve.
Funeral, family, faith. The two-year filing window is long enough that little needs to be done in the first week. Don't let an insurance adjuster rush you.
An adjuster may call within days asking for a 'preliminary statement' or offering 'help with funeral costs.' Do not sign a release. Anything signed in the first weeks can foreclose the entire claim.
Police and CHP reports, autopsy report when available, medical records from the final treatment, photos of the scene if a vehicle was involved, witness contact information. Keep them in a single folder.
Pay stubs, tax returns for the last 3–5 years, benefit statements. Economic damages are projected from these documents.
Two-year clock for the lawsuit (CCP § 335.1). Six-month notice-of-claim deadline if a public entity is involved (Gov. Code § 911.2). The shorter clock is the trap.
CCP § 377.60 lists eligible plaintiffs: spouse, domestic partner, children, descendants of deceased children, and certain dependents. We help families work this out - it's often more nuanced than it appears.
Free, confidential, 24/7. There is no pressure. The consultation can happen at our office, your home, by phone, or by video - whichever is easiest.
There is no pressure and no clock on this conversation. Whenever it feels right to talk, a Devoted attorney will be on the other end of the phone.
But the law recognizes what a family has lost and what the decedent suffered. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Past results disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in your case.
Free, confidential, 24/7. Jeff Yates, Derek Waldron, or Jeff Waldron will be on the line - not an intake clerk, not a callback. Two of the three are fluent in Spanish.
Call (888) 760-2529 or send the form. A licensed California attorney calls back, usually within the hour. There is no pressure and no obligation.
Preservation letters, document requests, scene investigation, expert retention. The family is shielded from contact with adjusters and defendants.
Demand, negotiation, and - if the insurer won't pay fair value - litigation. Throughout, we keep the family informed and protect what privacy we can.
Names withheld for privacy, facts preserved for transparency. Each case is unique - yours included.
A high school student sustained serious injuries requiring arm surgery after being involved in a rollover accident as a passenger. The incident occurred while exiting Interstate 5.
Read the case study→During an evening bike ride in Twentynine Palms, a father was struck by a distracted driver who ran a stop sign, leaving him with multiple fractures and requiring several surgeries.
Read the case study→Walking his French bulldog in the morning, our client was suddenly attacked by a Cane Corso. He sustained multiple injuries, including bite wounds to his thigh, a chipped tooth, forehead abrasions, and a back injury.
Read the case study→Past results disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in your case. Each case is different and depends on its unique facts, the applicable law, and the available insurance coverage.
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
Get a fast case evaluation. Free 24/7 consultation. No fee unless we win. Hablamos Español.
