{"id":885,"date":"2026-10-20T00:34:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T00:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-138-224-95.nip.io\/wrongful-death-attorney-bakersfield\/visalia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T08:28:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:28:13","slug":"visalia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-attorney-bakersfield\/visalia\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrongful Death Lawyer in Bakersfield: Deadlines and Who Can File"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wrongful Death \u00b7 Bakersfield, California<\/p>

Wrongful Death Lawyer in Bakersfield: Deadlines and Who Can File<\/h1>

Colvin Accident Lawyers helps Kern County families understand who may bring a wrongful death claim and why timing matters. Start with a free, confidential first consultation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published October 19, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Wrongful Death Lawyer Visalia: Deadlines and Who Can File<\/h2>\n\n
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If your family lost someone in a Visalia crash or incident, you may have a claim, and our team can review your deadlines at a free, confidential consultation. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Why Visalia Families Turn to a Wrongful Death Lawyer<\/h2>\n

A wrongful death claim lets eligible family members seek money from the person or party whose wrongful act or negligence caused a death. If your loved one died in a crash or incident in Visalia or elsewhere in Tulare County, you may be dealing with funeral plans, insurance calls, and hard questions about who is responsible, all at once.<\/p>\n

California’s general negligence rule says everyone is responsible for an injury caused by a lack of ordinary care.<\/p>\n

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California, and represents accident victims and their families. It serves Visalia families as a wrongful death lawyer who can explain the general rules. This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts.<\/p>\n

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

Eligibility is specific, so families should check their own situation early.<\/p>\n

Questions about who should take part are easier to answer early, while the facts and records are fresh. Our team can walk through who may qualify during your consultation.<\/p>\n

Deadlines in Tulare County: Two Years, and a Shorter Clock for Public Agencies<\/h2>\n

The general deadline to file a California wrongful death lawsuit is generally two years from the date of death. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 335.1<\/a> sets that period, and other rules can change the timing. The California Courts Self-Help Guide on deadlines to sue<\/a> explains that personal injury suits generally carry a two-year limit, with exceptions.<\/p>\n

That step has its own, much shorter window.<\/p>\n

Possible issues include road design, a broken sidewalk, or county property. Raise any public-property question at your first call.<\/p>\n

Visalia-Area Incidents We Handle<\/h2>\n

Wrongful death claims in our practice can arise from car and truck collisions, motorcycle and bicycle crashes, pedestrian strikes, bus incidents, dog attacks, and dangerous conditions on property. A Visalia family may face any of these on routes such as Highway 99, Highway 198, or busy city streets.<\/p>\n

Dog bites deserve a specific note. Under Cal. Civ. Code \u00a7 3342<\/a>, a dog owner is liable for damages when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, except that the section does not authorize suits against a governmental agency using a dog in military or police work in the circumstances it lists. That liability applies regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of it.<\/p>\n

Some deaths follow a serious injury by weeks or months. The medical timeline matters, so tell your lawyer about every treatment date early.<\/p>\n

What a Wrongful Death Claim May Seek to Recover<\/h2>\n

A wrongful death claim seeks money that compensates for the harm the death caused. A person who suffers detriment from another’s unlawful act or omission may recover damages in money, under Cal. Civ. Code \u00a7 3281<\/a>. The measure is the amount that compensates for all detriment proximately caused, under Cal. Civ. Code \u00a7 3333<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Damages fall into two groups. Economic damages include objectively verifiable losses such as medical expenses, loss of earnings, and burial costs. Non-economic damages cover subjective losses such as loss of society and companionship and loss of consortium, as defined in Cal. Civ. Code \u00a7 1431.2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Under the same statute, each defendant’s liability for non-economic damages is several only: it pays only the non-economic damages allocated to its percentage of fault. Results depend on the facts of each case, and no dollar amount is promised here.<\/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>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What Happens at Your Free, Confidential Initial Consultation<\/h2>\n

The first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p>\n

In that meeting, we review how the death happened, your family’s situation, and any insurance contacts you have already had. We also look for public-agency issues that may carry a short deadline. Bring the date, the place, and any reports you received.<\/p>\n

Before you sign anything from an insurer, talk with us first. Insurance papers can affect your claim, so review them before you respond.<\/p>\n

A separate state program, the California Victim Compensation Board<\/a>, has its own eligibility rules for crime victims’ families. It does not replace a civil wrongful death claim.<\/p>\n\n

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Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Visalia Case<\/h2>\n

Families in Visalia who are facing a loss often have questions about next steps, and a free, confidential initial consultation with Colvin Accident Lawyers is one place to start. A wrongful death lawyer Visalia families can call should look at your timeline first, including any public-agency issue.<\/p>\n

Common Questions<\/h3>
How long do I have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California?<\/summary>

Generally two years from the date of death, under Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 335.1<\/a>. Other rules can change the timing.<\/p>

Our team can check your family’s situation against those rules.<\/p>\n

If your family lost someone in Visalia and you are deciding what to do next, call Colvin Accident Lawyers or use our contact form<\/a> to request your consultation.<\/p>\n

Donald Norman Colvin, Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site.<\/p><\/details><\/article>\n