Wrongful Death matters in Bakersfield
Kern County's highways carry enormous volumes of traffic, and that traffic exacts a heavy toll. Fatal collisions occur on Highway 99 as it cuts through Bakersfield, on Interstate 5 and the long descent of the Grapevine, on Highway 58 heading toward Tehachapi, and on the 178 climbing into the canyon. High speeds, truck traffic, fog, and fatigue turn ordinary crashes into deadly ones.
When a death results from another party's negligence, whether a distracted driver, an impaired motorist, a commercial trucking company, or a dangerous roadway condition, California's wrongful death statute lets specific family members bring a claim.
Why fatal accidents happen here
- High-speed and truck-heavy traffic on Highway 99 through Bakersfield
- Crashes and chain collisions on I-5 and the Grapevine grade
- Run-off and rollover wrecks on Highway 58 toward Tehachapi
- Mountain-road hazards on the 178 in the Kern Canyon
- Tule fog and reduced visibility across the valley floor
- Drowsy and impaired driving on long commuter and freight routes
Who can file and the controlling law
California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 defines who has standing to bring a wrongful death claim. That generally includes the surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, in their absence, other heirs who would inherit under intestate succession, along with certain dependents. The claim seeks to compensate the family for their loss rather than the decedent's own pain.
If a public entity contributed to the death, for example through a dangerous road design or a government vehicle, the California Government Claims Act applies. Government Code section 911.2 generally requires an administrative claim against the public entity within six months of the death, a deadline that arrives long before the standard filing period.
Common causes behind these cases
- Speeding, tailgating, and unsafe lane changes on crowded freeways
- Commercial truck and big-rig collisions on freight corridors through Kern County
- Impaired and drowsy driving on long valley and mountain routes
- Dangerous or poorly maintained roadway conditions
- Pedestrian and motorcyclist fatalities on busy arterials
What a wrongful death claim can address
A wrongful death claim can seek economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include the financial support the deceased would have provided over their lifetime, funeral and burial expenses, and the value of lost household services and guidance. Non-economic damages address the loss of the deceased's love, companionship, comfort, society, and moral support, intangible harms that the law recognizes even though they are difficult to measure. A separate survival action, brought by the deceased's estate, may also recover certain losses the deceased sustained between the injury and death, such as pre-death medical bills. Every family's situation is different, and we cannot guarantee any particular outcome.
Comparative fault can apply, since California uses pure comparative negligence, but it reduces rather than eliminates recovery, even where the deceased may have been partly responsible.
Deadlines and the Kern County court
Most wrongful death claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Where a public entity is involved, the six-month Government Code section 911.2 deadline can come first. Bakersfield wrongful death lawsuits are generally filed in the Kern County Superior Court at the main courthouse on Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield.
How MMG Law Firm helps from Glendale
MMG Law Firm works out of Glendale, about 110 miles from Bakersfield, and represents grieving families statewide. We do not have a Bakersfield office, and we say so honestly. We can investigate the crash, secure highway and crash-reconstruction evidence, coordinate with experts, and handle the matter remotely while appearing in Kern County court when needed. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan offers free, compassionate consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with wrongful death
These are the matters Mihran M. Ghazaryan approaches with the most care. He identifies the family members California law allows to bring a claim, handles the process so the family doesn't have to relive it at every turn, and accounts fully for both the economic and the human losses — quietly, respectfully, and with the family's wishes leading the way.
Types of wrongful death matters we handle
Motor-vehicle fatalities
Includes pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, and passenger fatalities. Federal regulations and CHP investigation drive the timeline.
Premises and workplace fatalities
Cal-OSHA reports become available later than family expects. We coordinate the investigation around their pace, not the agency's.
Medical-related deaths
MICRA limits and physician/hospital coordination create unique procedural rules. We work with consulting experts early.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every wrongful death claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Take the time you need before making decisions about a case.
- Preserve any evidence in your possession — vehicles, clothing, devices.
- Do not sign anything from the at-fault party's insurer.
- Be cautious of social-media posts; they will be reviewed.
- When ready, call us. The consultation is free and there is no rush.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.