Wrongful Death matters in Susanville
The same roads and conditions that make life around Susanville beautiful can also turn deadly. A head-on collision on a snowy stretch of US-395, a truck losing control on the grades of State Route 36, or a crash on the curves of State Route 44 toward Lassen Volcanic National Park can take a life in an instant. The long, dark winters of the high desert, with their ice, freezing fog, and sudden whiteouts, contribute to many of the most serious crashes in Lassen County. Wrongful-death claims also arise from fatal pedestrian and motorcycle crashes, dangerous property conditions, and other acts of negligence. For the families left behind, these cases are about accountability and securing the future the lost loved one would have provided.
Who may bring a wrongful-death claim
California law, under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, allows specific family members to bring a wrongful-death claim. These typically include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, when there is no surviving spouse or children, other relatives who would inherit under state law. A separate survival claim may allow the deceased person's estate to recover for losses the person suffered before death, such as medical expenses and the pain endured between the injury and passing. Sorting out who has the right to file, and coordinating among family members who may live in different places, is a sensitive but essential part of the process, and an attorney can guide the family through it with care.
What these claims seek to recover
A wrongful-death claim can seek compensation for the financial support the family has lost, the value of household services the loved one provided, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the love, companionship, comfort, and guidance the person gave. For a family that depended on the deceased for income, the loss can be financially devastating as well as emotional. California law does not allow damages meant purely to punish in the wrongful-death claim itself, though punitive damages may be available through a survival action in cases of egregious conduct such as a drunk driver causing a fatal crash. No amount of money can measure a life, and an honest attorney will never pretend otherwise or promise a particular outcome.
Handling the case with care
Fatal crashes in remote areas demand prompt investigation. Skid marks, electronic vehicle data, and witness accounts on US-395 or a mountain highway can fade or disappear within days, and travelers passing through Lassen County may be impossible to locate later. Serious cases are often investigated near where care was given at Banner Lassen Medical Center or a transferring trauma center, and those records help establish what happened. When litigation becomes necessary, a Susanville wrongful-death case is generally filed at the Lassen County Superior Court right in town. Mr. Ghazaryan handles every step from his Glendale base, dealing with insurers and building the case while giving the family the space to grieve. The goal is to hold the responsible party accountable and to ease the financial burden on those left behind.
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.