{"id":6172,"date":"2026-11-04T03:45:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T03:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/wrongful-death-police-chase-government-vehicle-california\/"},"modified":"2026-11-08T08:26:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T08:26:35","slug":"wrongful-death-police-chase-government-vehicle-california","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/wrongful-death-police-chase-government-vehicle-california\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrongful Death Police Chase California: Claim Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wrongful Death | Bakersfield, CA<\/p>

A Police Chase Took Someone You Love. Understanding Your Claim Starts Here.<\/h1>

Colvin Accident Lawyers helps families in Kern County and nearby communities understand wrongful death claims that involve police pursuits, including the deadlines that may apply.<\/p>

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By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published November 3, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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A wrongful death claim against a government agency generally must be presented in writing within six months. This guide covers the wrongful death police chase California rules families need, in plain words, so they can act in time.<\/p>\n

The Six-Month Claim Deadline for a Government Vehicle Crash Death<\/h2>\n

A claim for a death caused by a government vehicle generally must be presented within six months. Gov. Code \u00a7 911.2<\/a> sets that period for a cause of action for death. The period runs from accrual, the legal start date of the claim. Families should not assume they have more time.<\/p>\n

This step is a claim, not a lawsuit. Under Gov. Code \u00a7 945.4<\/a>, a suit for money or damages generally cannot be brought until the claim has been acted on or deemed rejected.<\/p>\n

A late claim can block the case. Many people have heard of a two-year deadline for injury cases<\/a> (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 335.1<\/a>). Claims against public agencies run on a much shorter clock. Relief from a late claim is possible only in limited cases, and it is never a sure thing. That is why the date of the death should prompt a call to a lawyer right away.<\/p>\n\n

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If a crash involving a patrol car or city vehicle took a family member's life, our team can help you check the six-month deadline before it passes. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California<\/h2>\n

A short list of family members and heirs can bring the claim, and state law sets that list. Under Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 377.60<\/a>, the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children can bring the claim. So can the issue of deceased children.<\/p>\n

If there is no surviving issue, the people who would inherit the decedent’s property by intestate succession may bring it. Certain dependent persons can also sue. Those include parents who were dependent on the decedent, and a minor who resided in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days and was dependent on the decedent for one-half or more of the minor’s support. The claim can be asserted by the decedent’s personal representative on their behalf.<\/p>\n

Identify the people who fit these categories early. The claim must show the claimant’s name and post office address, plus the address where notices should be sent. That is required under Gov. Code \u00a7 910<\/a>. Parents of an adult child should check their own status with a lawyer, because the statute’s categories turn on the facts of each family.<\/p>\n

Why Government Vehicle Crashes Are Handled Differently<\/h2>\n

A public agency is generally not liable for an injury unless a statute provides a basis for liability. Gov. Code \u00a7 815<\/a> starts from that rule. Liability is also subject to any immunity the statute provides and to any defenses that would be available to a private person, so the legal steps are different from a crash with a private driver.<\/p>\n

The main rule for employee driving is in Gov. Code \u00a7 815.2<\/a>. A public entity is liable for injury caused by an employee’s act or omission within the scope of employment. That applies when the act would have created a claim against the employee, unless the employee is immune. In practice, the claim usually runs against the agency.<\/p>\n

Punitive damages are not available against a public entity. Gov. Code \u00a7 818<\/a> provides that a public entity is not liable for damages imposed primarily for the sake of example and by way of punishing the defendant. Timing also matters after the claim is handled. Under Gov. Code \u00a7 945.6<\/a>, if written notice of rejection is given in accordance with Section 913, a suit generally must start within six months after the date the notice is personally delivered or deposited in the mail. Under Gov. Code \u00a7 946.6(f)<\/a>, if the court makes an order relieving the petitioner from Section 945.4, suit on the cause of action to which the claim relates shall be filed with the court within 30 days thereafter.<\/p>\n

Police Pursuits: What Makes These Cases Different<\/h2>\n

Police pursuit cases raise questions that a regular crash case does not. The first questions are usually what the agency’s pursuit rules said and whether officers followed them. Those rules shape how the case is built from the start.<\/p>\n

Immunity is a central issue. Under Gov. Code \u00a7 815<\/a>, a public entity’s liability is subject to any immunity provided by statute. Whether an immunity applies depends on the facts and the specific statute. A lawyer must check those rules against the records in each case.<\/p>\n

Common fact questions include these. How did the pursuit start? Who approved it, and when? Did it continue as the risk grew? What did the agency’s written policy require? The answers come from records and witness accounts, not from general rules alone. Families can help by writing down what they know while memories are fresh.<\/p>\n

Other Government Vehicles: Patrol Cars, Buses, Transit, and Public Works Trucks<\/h2>\n

Many government vehicles are involved in fatal crashes. Common examples include California Highway Patrol cruisers, sheriff’s units, city police cars, public transit and city buses, and county or city work trucks. Each type can involve a different public agency.<\/p>\n

Identifying the right agency is part of the claim. The claim must name the public employees involved, if known. Under Gov. Code \u00a7 910<\/a>, the claim must also describe the date, place, and other circumstances of the crash. A claim sent to the wrong agency can cause delay that a family cannot afford.<\/p>\n

The same statute sets a rule about dollars. If the amount claimed exceeds $10,000, the claim may not include a dollar amount. It must still say whether the claim would be a limited civil case. That detail is easy to miss, so it is worth checking before a claim is sent.<\/p>\n

Evidence That Is Often Time-Sensitive<\/h2>\n

The most useful records are often held by the agency. These include the collision report, dispatch and pursuit logs, the agency’s written pursuit policy, and any video from patrol cars, body cameras, or nearby cameras. Each item can show what happened and when.<\/p>\n

Early review helps. Video and records can be overwritten or lost under the agency’s own routines. Memories also fade with time. A lawyer who reviews the crash early can decide what to request and how quickly to request it.<\/p>\n

Families can keep their own records, too. Useful items include the crash date, witness names, photos, medical bills, and any letters from the agency. Keep them in one place and bring them when you talk with a lawyer.<\/p>\n\n

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Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3>

Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
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Common Mistakes That Can Cost a Family Its Claim<\/h2>\n

The most common mistake is waiting past the six-month deadline. Families often wait while they gather information or talk with the agency. That wait uses up the clock.<\/p>\n

Other mistakes can be just as costly:<\/p>\n