{"id":890,"date":"2026-10-20T00:53:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T00:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-138-224-95.nip.io\/wrongful-death-attorney-bakersfield\/lancaster\/"},"modified":"2026-10-24T10:05:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T10:05:25","slug":"lancaster","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-attorney-bakersfield\/lancaster\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrongful Death Lawyer Bakersfield CA | Colvin Accident Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wrongful Death Lawyer \u00b7 Bakersfield, CA<\/p>

Losing someone you love to another person's negligence? We can talk through your family's options.<\/h1>

Colvin Accident Lawyers represents surviving family members in wrongful death cases arising from car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, dog bite and premises incidents. Your first consultation is free, confidential and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

Request your free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Request your 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 Lancaster CA | Colvin Accident Lawyers<\/h2>\n

A California wrongful death claim lets a family seek damages after a loved one dies because of someone else’s fault. In most cases, the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the death (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 335.1<\/a>). This page explains those timelines for families in Lancaster and Palmdale, whom we serve from our Bakersfield office.<\/p>\n\n

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If your family lost someone in a Lancaster or Antelope Valley crash, the deadlines may already be running, and you don't have to sort them out alone. Call Colvin Accident Lawyers for 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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Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California<\/h2>\n

Eligibility turns on family relationship and the facts of the case. A wrongful death lawsuit in California is filed under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60. Several family members may have a role in the claim, and the attorney reviews who qualifies at the consultation.<\/p>\n

California law treats the family’s claim under Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.60, which covers a cause of action for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another and may be asserted by the persons listed in the statute or by the decedent’s personal representative on their behalf. Some cases involve both claims, so the attorney reviews them together.<\/p>\n

Don’t decide on your own whether you qualify. Bring the family relationship details, such as marriage, registered domestic partnership, or parent and child, to the consultation. Those details shape who may file and what the claim covers.<\/p>\n

Filing Deadlines: Two Years, and Six Months When a Public Entity Is Involved<\/h2>\n

For most wrongful death cases, the general deadline is two years from the date of death. Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 335.1<\/a> sets the two-year period. The California Courts Self Help Guide<\/a> notes that exceptions can apply, so the exact date needs review.<\/p>\n

The clock can be much shorter when a public entity is involved. A city, the county, the State, or a public transit agency may be responsible for a road, a signal, a bus, or a facility. Under Government Code section 911.2, a written government claim for a cause of action for death or for injury to person or to personal property or growing crops must be presented not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action; a claim for any other cause of action is due within one year. Missing that deadline can bar a claim that would otherwise be valid.<\/p>\n

Families should not wait for a coroner or police report before asking about deadlines. Reports take time, and the calendar keeps moving. A crash on the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) could involve the State, while a crash on a city street could involve the city. Whether a public agency is involved depends on the facts.<\/p>\n

Fatal Crashes and Incidents Across Lancaster and the Antelope Valley<\/h2>\n

A wrongful death claim can arise from many fatal incidents. These include car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, dog bite, and premises incidents. Each type raises different questions about who was at fault and who may be responsible.<\/p>\n

Commercial truck crashes often involve more records. Federal rules for property-carrying trucks limit driving time. Those logs can matter, but a rule violation is never assumed.<\/p>\n

The county coroner or medical examiner may investigate the cause of death. Reports from the police or sheriff’s agency that responded also matter. Ask the responding agency for the report number as soon as possible. That number helps when records are requested later.<\/p>\n

What a Wrongful Death Claim in California Can Include<\/h2>\n

A California wrongful death claim seeks money for the losses a family suffered because of a death. California allows a person who suffers detriment from another’s unlawful act to recover damages in money, under Civil Code \u00a7 3281<\/a>. For the breach of an obligation not arising from contract, the measure of damages is the amount that compensates for all the detriment proximately caused, whether it could have been anticipated or not, except where the Code expressly provides otherwise, under Civil Code \u00a7 3333<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Under Cal. Civ. Code \u00a7 1431.2<\/a>, the term ‘economic damages’ means objectively verifiable monetary losses, while ‘non-economic damages’ means subjective, non-monetary losses. Civil Code \u00a7 1431.2<\/a> defines economic damages as objectively verifiable monetary losses, such as medical expenses and loss of earnings. It defines non-economic damages as subjective losses, such as loss of companionship and emotional distress. In comparative fault cases, each defendant pays non-economic damages only in proportion to its own fault.<\/p>\n

See Daly v. General Motors Corp.<\/a> for the court’s explanation. Families often list funeral and burial costs, medical bills from the incident, and lost income. Each item must be documented.<\/p>\n

No one can predict the result of a claim. Its value turns on the facts, the evidence, insurance, and the law that applies.<\/p>\n

Evidence Lancaster Families Should Preserve Early<\/h2>\n

Evidence from a fatal incident can be repaired, released, or discarded, so families should act early. Vehicles, phones, and clothing are often the first items at risk. Asking for preservation soon after the incident gives the attorney more to work with.<\/p>\n

Start with this checklist:<\/p>\n