Wrongful Death matters in Hollister
When Fatal Incidents Strike Near Hollister
Fatal collisions and accidents touch families throughout San Benito County. The two-lane stretches of SR-25 between Hollister and Gilroy and SR-156 toward San Juan Bautista carry heavy commuter and agricultural traffic, and head-on crashes during unsafe passing on these routes are among the deadliest in the region. The US-101 connection at Gilroy adds high-speed freeway risk for Hollister residents commuting to Silicon Valley. Fatal incidents also arise from truck collisions, motorcycle crashes during the area's riding season, pedestrian strikes downtown, dangerous property conditions, and farm and workplace hazards in the county's agricultural economy.
When a death follows a serious crash, families are often left waiting at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital before facing an unimaginable loss, and then confronting insurers and funeral costs all at once. The firm handles these matters with care while protecting the family's legal rights.
Who May Bring a Claim and What It Covers
California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 sets out who may file a wrongful death claim, generally the surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, in their absence, others entitled under intestate succession. A wrongful death claim can seek the financial support the deceased would have provided, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the loved one's companionship, comfort, and guidance. A separate survival action may recover certain losses the deceased suffered before death.
No attorney can promise an amount, and California does not cap most wrongful death damages. Value depends on the deceased's age, earnings, and role in the family, and on the relationships left behind. The firm works to identify every responsible party and every available insurance policy, which matters when an at-fault driver carried minimum coverage or none and a family's own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply.
Building the Case With Compassion
Proving wrongful death requires the same careful work as any serious injury case: securing the police report, scene evidence, and witness accounts before they fade. Under California's pure comparative negligence rule, a recovery is possible even if the deceased shared some fault, reduced by that share. The firm manages the investigation and the insurers so the family can grieve.
Acting Within California's Deadlines
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, a wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the death. If a public entity may share responsibility, Government Code section 911.2 usually requires a written claim within six months, a far shorter window. Cases proceed in the San Benito County Superior Court in Hollister, and early action protects the evidence and the family's rights.
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.