Wrongful Death matters in Sacramento
Fatal incidents in the Sacramento region frequently involve the area's high-speed corridors. The interchange of Interstate 5 and Highway 99, the Capital City Freeway (Business 80), and Highway 50 carry heavy commuter and truck traffic, and crashes at freeway speeds are often catastrophic. Wrongful death also arises from commercial-truck collisions, pedestrian and bicycle deaths on surface streets, dangerous premises, and defective products.
When a family loses someone, the legal questions can feel overwhelming. California's wrongful-death statute is designed to let specific survivors recover for the loss while holding the at-fault party responsible.
How fatal incidents happen in Sacramento
- High-speed and multi-vehicle crashes on I-5, Highway 99, the 50, and the Capital City Freeway
- Commercial-truck and big-rig collisions on regional freight routes
- Pedestrians and cyclists struck on downtown and midtown streets
- Drunk, distracted, or speeding drivers
- Dangerous property conditions and defective products
Who can file under California law
The right to bring a wrongful-death claim is defined by Code of Civil Procedure §377.60. Standing generally belongs to the surviving spouse or domestic partner, the deceased person's children, and, if there is no surviving issue, other heirs who would inherit under intestate succession. Certain dependents may also qualify. Determining who has standing can be complicated, and we help families sort it out.
California applies pure comparative negligence, so even if the person who died was partly at fault, the family's recovery is reduced by that share rather than eliminated.
Damages a family may recover
Wrongful-death damages include economic losses such as the financial support the deceased would have provided, lost benefits, funeral and burial costs, and the value of household services, plus non-economic losses such as the loss of the deceased person's love, companionship, comfort, care, and guidance. We do not promise any particular amount; recovery depends on the facts and the evidence.
Deadlines and the Sacramento courthouse
The deadline to file a California wrongful-death lawsuit is generally two years from the date of death under Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. If a public entity contributed to the death, for example a dangerous roadway condition or a government vehicle, a government claim must usually be filed first within six months under Government Code §911.2. That short deadline is easy to miss in the middle of grief, so early legal advice matters. Sacramento wrongful-death lawsuits are filed in the Sacramento County Superior Court at the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse.
How MMG Law Firm helps from Glendale
We are based in Glendale and represent families throughout California, including Sacramento. We handle the investigation, evidence preservation, and negotiations remotely, and we appear in Sacramento County court when the case calls for it. We move at your family's pace, offer free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and 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.
More practice areas in Sacramento
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- Catastrophic Injury in Sacramento
- Slip and Fall in Sacramento
- Motorcycle Accidents in Sacramento
- Bicycle Accidents in Sacramento
- Uber & Lyft Accidents in Sacramento