Free Wrongful Death Consultation in Bakersfield

A free wrongful death consultation Bakersfield families can request is a confidential first meeting about a death that another party may have caused. The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue.

What a Free Wrongful Death Consultation Is and Who It Is For

A wrongful death consultation is a first meeting where a family reviews a fatal incident and its legal options. You share what happened, ask questions, and learn how California law may apply to your loss.

A wrongful death claim arises when someone dies because of another person’s negligence or wrongful act. Fatal cases can involve car or truck crashes, motorcycle or bicycle collisions, pedestrian strikes, bus incidents, dog attacks, and premises liability incidents on someone else’s property.

This meeting suits families who lost a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, or other close loved one. Colvin Accident Lawyers represents accident victims and families in Bakersfield and Kern County. The firm also serves nearby communities such as Fresno, Visalia, Delano, Tehachapi, Lancaster, and Palmdale.

What the Consultation Covers

The consultation covers how the death happened, who may be responsible, and which damages and deadlines may matter. Here is what you can expect to discuss:

• How the death happened. We review the type of incident, when and where it occurred, and what records already describe it.
• Who may be responsible. This can include a negligent driver, a vehicle owner, a commercial carrier, or a property owner.
• Damage categories. California law separates economic damages, such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and burial costs, from non-economic damages, such as loss of companionship (Civ. Code § 1431.2).
• Limits on pain and suffering. In a claim brought on the decedent’s own cause of action, damages generally do not include pain, suffering, or disfigurement.
• Several liability. Each defendant pays non-economic damages only for its own percentage of fault (Civ. Code § 1431.2).

We also talk through which records to gather and which deadlines could apply to your case.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

The process starts with one conversation. Your family decides whether to move forward at each step.

1. Schedule. Contact us to set a first consultation time that fits your family’s schedule.
2. Share the basics. Tell us what happened, and bring any documents you already have.
3. Review together. We go over the facts, answer your questions, and talk through what your family hopes to understand.
4. Decide. If you choose to go forward, we explain next steps. These may include investigating the incident, gathering records, and communicating with insurers or other parties.
5. Stay in control. You choose at every stage whether to continue.

How long the work takes varies with the records involved. It also depends on whether the matter resolves without a lawsuit or goes to court.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California and Key Deadlines

A surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child may bring a California wrongful death claim. A personal representative may also act on their behalf. The statute names other people in certain situations:

• A minor who lived in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days and depended on the decedent for at least half of their support.

These rules come from Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60.

Generally, a California wrongful death action must be brought within two years (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Other rules can apply in some cases, so ask about timing at your first meeting.

If a city, county, or other public entity may share responsibility, the shorter deadline matters. A claim for death against a public entity generally must be presented within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2). Raise this question early.

Documents and Evidence to Gather Before Your Consultation

Bring the records you have now. Missing items are fine. Our team can help identify what to request next.

• A certified copy of the death certificate, plus any coroner or medical examiner findings your family has received.
• Police, fire, or incident reports, along with any citations or insurance details exchanged at the scene.
• Hospital, ambulance, and medical bills, including bills for treatment before death.
• Funeral and burial receipts.
• Proof of the decedent’s income, such as pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit statements.
• Photos, videos, and written notes about the scene, plus any earlier complaints about the hazard or the party involved.
• A short written timeline of the incident and your family’s communications with anyone involved.

Why Families Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers

Families contact Colvin Accident Lawyers because the firm handles wrongful death alongside other accident and injury cases.

• Location. The firm is based in Bakersfield, California, and represents families in Kern County and nearby communities.
• Case types. The firm handles wrongful death, car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, dog bite, premises liability, and catastrophic injury cases.
• Responsible lawyer. Donald Norman Colvin is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our team handles scheduling and records requests, and our lawyers explain each step in plain language.
• Clear communication. We focus on what has happened, which documents matter, and what choices your family faces at each stage.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Free Wrongful Death Consultation

Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Family’s Loss

If you lost a loved one in Bakersfield or Kern County, the next step is a conversation. Questions about the crash, the bills, or who may be responsible deserve clear answers.

Reach out now through our contact form at colvinaccidentlawyers.com/contact to set up your first consultation. Because the two-year period and the six-month public-entity deadline can run quickly, bring up timing questions at that first meeting.

Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site.