Practice Area
Wrongful Death Lawyers in California
When negligence takes a life, the law lets the family seek accountability and stability. We handle these cases with the care they require, and with the rigor it takes to hold the responsible party answerable.
- FeeNo fee unless we win
- First conversationFree and confidential
- LanguageSe habla español
Overview
How these claims work.
A California wrongful death claim belongs to the surviving family — typically a spouse or domestic partner, children, and in some cases other dependents. It exists to recover for the family’s loss: financial support, lost companionship and guidance, and funeral and burial costs.
A separate “survival” claim may recover losses the person themselves suffered before death, such as medical bills and certain pre-death damages. We handle both tracks together, and we do the medical and liability work needed to show exactly how and why the death occurred.
What We Handle
Situations that lead to wrongful death claims
- Fatal car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities
- Catastrophic workplace incidents
- Defective products and machinery
- Dangerous property conditions
- Negligent security and assaults
- Medical negligence
California Law
What you should know.
-
Who can file in California
California law (Code of Civil Procedure §377.60) sets who may bring a wrongful death claim — generally the surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and certain other dependents or heirs. We help families determine the proper claimants.
-
Two-year deadline, with exceptions
Most wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. When a government entity is involved, a claim may be due within six months. Because survival and wrongful death claims can run on different tracks, early advice matters.
General information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules depend on the facts of your case, so talk to a lawyer about yours. Read our FAQ.
How We Help
What Reardon Stodolka brings to your case.
-
We read the medicine, not just the file
The firm was built around reading treatment records the way clinicians do — connecting the mechanism of your injury to the diagnosis, the prognosis, and the long-term cost. That is what stops an insurer from dismissing a serious injury as minor.
-
California is the whole practice
Deadlines, comparative-fault rules, and the insurers and courts you will face are all California-specific. The work is built around how injury claims actually move here, from the first claim letter to trial if it comes to that.
-
No fee unless we win
You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we recover for you. The first conversation is free and focused on giving you a clear, honest read on your claim.
Who is allowed to file a wrongful death claim in California?
Usually the surviving spouse or domestic partner and children. If there are none, the right can extend to other heirs or dependents under California law. We help identify who has standing.
What can a wrongful death claim recover?
Financial support the person would have provided, the value of lost companionship and guidance, and funeral and burial expenses. A separate survival claim can recover certain losses the person suffered before death.
How long do we have to act?
Generally two years, but as little as six months if a government entity is involved. Acting early also protects the evidence needed to prove what happened.
Free Case Review
Ready to talk about your case?
Share what happened and the questions weighing on you. The first conversation is free, confidential, and focused on clarity — with no fee unless we win.