Wrongful Death matters in San Mateo
When a San Mateo Family Loses a Loved One
Fatal incidents in San Mateo take many forms. High-speed crashes on US-101 (the Bayshore Freeway) and the SR-92 approach to the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge claim lives every year, as do collisions on Interstate 280 near the Crystal Springs curves. Pedestrians are killed crossing arterials like El Camino Real (SR-82), and fatal falls, defective products, and unsafe premises take others. Whatever the cause, the law allows certain surviving family members to seek accountability and compensation for the loss.
No legal claim can restore what a family has lost. What a wrongful death case can do is establish the truth of what happened, hold the at-fault party responsible, and provide for the financial security that the loss has threatened, so that grieving relatives are not left to shoulder funeral costs and lost support on their own.
Who May Sue and What the Law Allows
California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 defines who may bring a wrongful death claim. The right belongs first to the surviving spouse or domestic partner and the children, and if there are none, it passes to those who would inherit under California's intestate succession rules, such as parents or siblings. Certain dependents may also qualify. A wrongful death claim can recover the financial support the deceased would have provided, funeral and burial expenses, the loss of the loved one's companionship, comfort, and guidance, and other losses the family has suffered.
Separately, a survival action under California law allows the deceased's estate to recover certain losses the person experienced before death. We help families understand both paths. California's pure comparative negligence rule applies, so any fault attributed to the deceased reduces but does not eliminate the recovery. These cases require careful, sensitive investigation, and we handle the legal work so the family can focus on grieving and healing.
Deadlines and the San Mateo County Court
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 such as a city, the county, or Caltrans is responsible, for example through a dangerous road condition, Government Code section 911.2 requires a written claim within six months, a much shorter deadline that families coping with loss can easily miss. Wrongful death lawsuits arising in San Mateo are filed in the San Mateo County Superior Court, with civil matters heard at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. We work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover for your family.
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.