Wrongful Death matters in Santa Barbara
When Negligence Takes a Life on the Central Coast
Fatal incidents around Santa Barbara most often arise from severe collisions on Highway 101 and the mountain route over San Marcos Pass, truck crashes along the coastal corridor, pedestrian and cyclist strikes downtown and along the waterfront, and dangerous property conditions. A wrongful death claim exists when a person dies because of another's negligent or wrongful act, whether a distracted driver, a commercial trucking company, or a property owner who ignored a known hazard.
No family should have to think about litigation while grieving, but California law sets time limits on these claims, and important evidence can vanish quickly. Speaking with an attorney early allows the firm to preserve what matters while your family focuses on each other.
How California Wrongful Death Claims Work
Under California law, a wrongful death claim may be brought by the deceased person's spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain other dependents and heirs. The claim can seek the lost financial support, the value of lost household services, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the loved one's love, companionship, and guidance. A related survival action may also recover certain losses the person suffered before death.
The general deadline is two years from the date of death under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, but if a government entity is involved, a written claim must be filed within six months under Government Code section 911.2. These cases are generally handled by the Santa Barbara County Superior Court at the Anacapa Street courthouse. Attorney Ghazaryan conducts a careful investigation, works with the appropriate experts, and handles every legal and insurance detail with sensitivity so your family can grieve without the burden of fighting an insurer.
Letting Your Family Grieve While the Firm Works
The days and weeks after a sudden loss are not the time to be fighting with an insurance company, yet that is exactly when the responsible party's insurer begins building its defense. Acting promptly to preserve evidence does not mean your family has to be involved in every detail. Attorney Ghazaryan can shoulder the investigation, the records requests, the expert coordination, and the negotiation while your family focuses on each other.
A wrongful death claim is never about putting a price on a life. It is about holding the responsible party accountable and securing the financial stability your family has lost, from the income and support the loved one provided to the funeral and burial costs you should not have to bear. These cases proceed through the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, and Attorney Ghazaryan handles them with the discretion and patience the circumstances demand. There is no fee unless he recovers compensation for your family, and the consultation is always free and confidential.
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.