Wrongful Death Lawyer in Bakersfield: Deadlines and Who Can File

Wrongful Death Lawyer Visalia: Deadlines and Who Can File

Why Visalia Families Turn to a Wrongful Death Lawyer

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.

California’s general negligence rule says everyone is responsible for an injury caused by a lack of ordinary care.

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.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California

Eligibility is specific, so families should check their own situation early.

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.

Deadlines in Tulare County: Two Years, and a Shorter Clock for Public Agencies

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

That step has its own, much shorter window.

Possible issues include road design, a broken sidewalk, or county property. Raise any public-property question at your first call.

Visalia-Area Incidents We Handle

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.

Dog bites deserve a specific note. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 3342, 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.

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

What a Wrongful Death Claim May Seek to Recover

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 § 3281. The measure is the amount that compensates for all detriment proximately caused, under Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.

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 § 1431.2.

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.

What Happens at Your Free, Confidential Initial Consultation

The first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.

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.

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

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

Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Visalia Case

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.

Common Questions