{"id":1838,"date":"2026-10-24T04:04:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T04:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-138-224-95.nip.io\/fatal-crash-claims-kern-county\/fatal-truck-crash-lawsuit-california\/"},"modified":"2026-10-24T08:13:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T08:13:08","slug":"fatal-truck-crash-lawsuit-california","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/fatal-crash-claims-kern-county\/fatal-truck-crash-lawsuit-california\/","title":{"rendered":"Fatal Truck Crash Lawsuit California: Who Can Sue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Truck Accident Lawyers \u00b7 Bakersfield, Kern County<\/p>

Lost a Loved One in a Truck Crash? Learn Who May Bring a Fatal Truck Crash Lawsuit in California<\/h1>

Colvin Accident Lawyers helps families in Kern County, Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, Palmdale, Delano and Tehachapi understand their options after a deadly collision with a commercial truck. Your first consultation is free, confidential and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

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By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published October 24, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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A fatal truck crash lawsuit in California is often a wrongful death claim. Certain family members, or the decedent’s personal representative on their behalf, may bring it. The claim can name the truck driver, the trucking company, and other parties whose conduct contributed to the crash. This page explains who can file, who may be held responsible, what the law allows families to recover, and which deadlines matter most. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, Kern County.<\/p>\n

What a Fatal Truck Crash Lawsuit Is and Who It Is For<\/h2>\n

A wrongful death lawsuit lets certain survivors seek recovery when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act or neglect. Under Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 377.60<\/a>, the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children can bring the claim. If there is no surviving issue, the persons who would inherit the decedent’s property by intestate succession can bring it. A putative spouse, children of the putative spouse, stepchildren, parents, or legal guardians if the parents are deceased can also bring it if they were dependent on the decedent. A minor can also bring it if, at the time of the death, the minor had lived in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days and depended on the decedent for half or more of the minor’s support. The decedent’s personal representative can also bring it on their behalf.<\/p>\n

If there is no surviving issue, the people who would inherit the decedent’s property by intestate succession may bring it. That group includes a surviving spouse or domestic partner. Dependent family members, such as stepchildren or parents, may also qualify. So may a minor who lived in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days and relied on the decedent for half or more of their support.<\/p>\n

A survival action is a separate claim. It seeks the losses the person suffered before death. Families often need to coordinate who files each claim, because the estate representative and the heirs may both have roles.<\/p>\n\n

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If you're handling funeral plans and insurance calls after a truck crash, you may have a claim, and you don't have to figure it out alone. We're here to talk. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Truck Crash Death<\/h2>\n

Responsibility can reach more than one party. Common targets include:<\/p>\n