Wrongful Death matters in Vallejo
When a Vallejo Family Loses a Loved One
Fatal incidents in and around Vallejo arise from many causes — high-speed collisions on Interstate 80 near the Carquinez Bridge, serious crashes on State Route 37 (Sears Point Road) along the bay, pedestrian and bicycle deaths on Sonoma Boulevard (SR-29), and dangerous conditions on property. When another party's negligence or wrongful act causes a death, California's wrongful death statute allows certain surviving family members to seek compensation for their loss.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, eligible claimants typically include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and certain other dependents. A related "survival" action may also allow the estate to recover certain losses the person suffered before death. These are separate but often parallel claims.
Pursuing Accountability with Compassion
A wrongful death case requires careful proof of both liability and the family's losses. We investigate the underlying incident — gathering reports, scene evidence, witness accounts, and, where care was provided, records from facilities such as Sutter Solano Medical Center on Hospital Drive or Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center on Sereno Drive. We work to establish who was at fault while handling the process with sensitivity to what the family is going through.
Recoverable damages can include funeral and burial expenses, the financial support the deceased would have provided, and the loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
Deadlines, Defendants, and the Family's Burden
Wrongful death claims carry the same general two-year deadline as other injury cases, but the clock and the parties can be complicated. If a government entity contributed — for example a dangerous public roadway condition on a Solano County street or a public vehicle — a government claim must be filed within just six months, and missing it can end the case before it begins. We identify those issues immediately so no avenue of recovery is lost.
We also look beyond the obvious defendant. A fatal crash may involve more than one driver, an employer whose worker was on the job, a trucking company, or a property owner, and each may carry separate insurance. By identifying every responsible party and policy, we work to secure the fullest possible recovery while sparing the family the burden of the investigation. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan handles each step with care, in English, Armenian, or Russian. Litigated Solano County cases proceed through the civil division of the Solano County Superior Court at the Hall of Justice in Fairfield on Union Avenue.
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.