California Wrongful Death Lawyers
Losing someone to another person's carelessness is a grief no family should carry alone. Nothing we do can bring them back. What we can do is make sure the people responsible are held accountable, and that your family is not left to face the financial aftermath on top of everything else. Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.
What Happens When You Call
There is no pressure and no obligation. Most families call because the insurance company already has, and they want to know what to do.
We listen first
You tell us what happened, as much or as little as you want to. We will not rush you.
We answer the practical questions
Who can file, what the deadlines are, whether to talk to the insurer, and what the claim can cover.
We protect the evidence
If you want us to, we send preservation demands the same day so nothing is lost while you grieve.
One thing to do right now: do not sign anything from an insurance company, and do not give a recorded statement. Early releases are designed to close the claim before the family knows what it is worth.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, California sets an order for who has the right to bring the claim.
Surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children
The primary heirs. If there are none, the claim passes to those who would inherit under intestate succession, including parents and siblings.
Dependent parents, stepchildren, and others
Parents, stepchildren, and certain other relatives who were financially dependent on the person who died can also bring a claim.
The personal representative
The executor or administrator of the estate can file on behalf of the heirs, and brings the separate survival action for the estate itself.
Not sure where your family stands? That is one of the first things we sort out on the call. 800-707-0707.
Wrongful Death Cases in Northern California
Each kind of fatal incident has its own liability question and its own defendants. We have handled all of them.
Fatal Car Accidents
Drunk, distracted, and reckless drivers on I-680, Highway 4, and the surface streets of Contra Costa County.
Fatal Truck and Commercial Vehicle Crashes
Carriers, drivers, and loaders. Federal safety rules, black box data, and the largest insurance policies on the road.
Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
Left-turn and lane-change collisions where the rider never had a chance, and the insurer tries to blame the rider anyway.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Deaths
More than 1 in 5 fatal crashes in Contra Costa County killed a pedestrian. Often on arterials where fast traffic meets people walking.
Workplace and Construction Fatalities
Third-party claims against contractors, equipment makers, and property owners, alongside workers' compensation.
Government and Public Transit
City vehicles, BART, county roads, and Caltrans highways, each with a six-month claim deadline.
Two Claims, Not One
California gives families two separate legal paths. Many claims leave the second one on the table.
| Compensation | A standard approach | The Scranton approach |
|---|---|---|
| Financial loss | Current income only | Lifetime earning capacity with economic modeling |
| Loss of companionship | A basic filing | Full documentation of the loss of love, guidance, and support |
| Survival action (CCP 377.30) | Often overlooked | Recovering the estate's claim, including punitive damages |
| Funeral and burial | Limited to standard receipts | Full recovery of all end-of-life expenses |
What Your Family Can Recover
No number replaces a person. The claim exists so the family is not left carrying the financial weight of someone else's negligence.
The financial loss
- Lost future income and benefits
- The value of household services they provided
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills from the final injury
The human loss
- Loss of love, companionship, and comfort
- Loss of guidance and training for children
- Loss of consortium for a spouse
- Loss of protection and moral support
The estate's claim
- What the person could have recovered had they lived
- Punitive damages for reckless conduct
- Property damage from the incident
- Brought by the personal representative
Cases involving a working parent, a young person with a long earning horizon, or a commercial defendant such as a trucking company can reach seven figures. Every case depends on its own facts, and we will tell you what yours involves once we know them.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The value of any claim depends on its specific facts, evidence, and available insurance coverage.
Fatal Crashes in Contra Costa County
We analyzed every fatal crash in the county recorded by the federal government from 2019 through 2024. These are the numbers behind the families we represent.
Contra Costa County Superior Court
Wrongful death lawsuits arising in Contra Costa County are filed at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. We file and try cases there regularly, and we know the local rules, the mediators, and the jury pool. Whether the incident happened at the Caldecott Tunnel, on the Sunol Grade, or on a street in Concord, that familiarity shapes how we prepare your case.
Deadlines
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, families generally have two years from the date of death to file. That window is shorter than it sounds: evidence at a crash scene is cleaned up within hours and camera footage is overwritten within weeks.
Six-month government deadline: if a public entity was involved, such as a city vehicle, BART, a county road, or a Caltrans highway, a formal written claim must be filed within six months. We handle every filing so nothing is forfeited.
Wrongful death lawyers near you
2026 Data ReportThe Most Dangerous Roads in Contra Costa County
469 fatal crashes over six years, mapped by road, corridor, time of day, and day of week.
Read the report →"When I take a wrongful death case, I am taking on a family's future. The insurance adjuster sees a number on a spreadsheet. We see the parent, the spouse, the child, and the space they left behind. We cannot bring them back. We can make sure the people responsible answer for it, and that the family is taken care of."
How a Wrongful Death Claim Proceeds
We carry the legal weight so your family can focus on each other.
A private conversation
We confirm who has the legal right to bring the claim, explain the two paths available, and tell you what to expect. We handle it quietly. Do not sign any insurance release before this call.
Investigation
Preservation demands, the police and coroner's reports, camera footage, black box data, and, where fault is disputed, forensic reconstruction.
Probate and estate coordination
If an estate must be opened for the survival action, we coordinate the paperwork with the court so you do not have to.
The full picture
Economists calculate lifetime income, benefits, and household services. We document the human loss with the same care. The demand reflects both.
Litigation and trial
If the defense will not accept responsibility, we take the case to a jury. Fifty years in Northern California courts is what brings them to the table.
Distribution to the family
We finalize the settlement or verdict, resolve any liens, and distribute the recovery to the heirs. You pay nothing unless we win.
The Attorneys Who Handle Your Case
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a wrongful death case worth?
Case value is based on the lost future income and benefits of the person who died, the household services they provided, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of their love, companionship, and guidance. Cases involving a working parent or a commercial defendant such as a trucking company can reach seven figures, but every case depends on its own facts.
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?
A wrongful death claim compensates the family for their own loss. A survival action under California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 belongs to the deceased person's estate and recovers what that person could have claimed had they lived, including punitive damages against the defendant.
Can siblings file a wrongful death claim in California?
Only if there is no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children. When no primary heirs exist, siblings and other relatives may be eligible under California's laws of intestate succession.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?
Generally two years from the date of death under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity was involved, such as a city vehicle, BART, or a county road, a formal government claim must be filed within six months.
What if the person died months after the accident?
You can still file. As long as the accident was the proximate cause of the death, the claim remains valid even if the death came much later. The two-year period runs from the date of death.
Can I recover punitive damages in a wrongful death case?
Not in the wrongful death claim itself, but a survival action brought by the estate can include punitive damages when the defendant's conduct was especially reckless, such as drunk driving. We evaluate every case for both claims.
What if there is a criminal case against the driver?
Your civil case is independent of any criminal proceedings. Even if the driver is not convicted, the lower burden of proof in civil court often allows the family's claim to succeed.
How much does a wrongful death lawyer cost?
We work on a contingency fee. We advance court costs and expert witness fees. If we do not recover money for your family, you owe us nothing.
Tell Us What Happened. We'll Take It From There.
An attorney reviews your message personally and calls you back. There is no cost and no obligation, and nothing you share leaves this firm.
Or call 800-707-0707- 100% confidential
- No fee unless we win
- Available 24/7, English and Spanish
Thank you. We'll call you shortly.
In the meantime:
- Do not sign anything from an insurance company.
- Do not give a recorded statement.
- Keep any paperwork, photos, or reports together.
Your Family Should Not Have to Fight This Alone
Let us handle the insurance company and the courts while you take care of each other. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Attorney Advertising. Scranton Law Firm, 2450 Stanwell Dr, Concord, CA 94520. Responsible attorney: Christian Scranton, California State Bar #196959. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.