San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer
San Francisco's fatal collisions are overwhelmingly urban: people struck while crossing, cyclists in traffic, and transit and delivery vehicles on dense streets. We handle these claims with care.
Where fatal collisions happen in San Francisco
Unlike most California cities, San Francisco's deaths are concentrated on city streets rather than freeways. A small number of wide, fast corridors account for a disproportionate share of them, and the city's density means pedestrians and cyclists make up far more of the total than they do elsewhere in the state. Transit, delivery and rideshare vehicles are frequently involved, which often puts a commercial policy and an employer in the picture.
Where a San Francisco claim is filed, and by when
Cases are generally handled through the Superior Court of California, City and County of San Francisco. California generally allows two years from the date of death, but if a public entity was involved — a city vehicle, a dangerous public road, a government employee — a formal claim usually has to be presented to that agency within about six months before suit is possible.
Who responds, and why it matters later
The San Francisco Police Department investigates most fatalities here, with the California Highway Patrol covering US-101 and I-280. The city and county are a single jurisdiction, which simplifies venue but means a claim involving a municipal vehicle or a transit agency runs into the shorter government deadline immediately.
What a California family may recover
California allows recovery for the financial support the person would have provided, the value of the household services they performed, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of their love, companionship, comfort and guidance. One distinction surprises families: California does not compensate the survivors' own grief as such. A separate survival claim, brought by the estate, covers what the person endured before dying.
Frequently asked questions
Who can file a wrongful death claim in San Francisco?
California limits it by statute to certain family members — typically a spouse or domestic partner and children, and sometimes others who were financially dependent. Who qualifies is a legal question rather than a matter of who was closest, and it is worth confirming early.
How long do we have after a death in San Francisco?
Generally two years from the date of death. If a government entity was involved, a claim usually has to be presented to that agency within about six months first — a far shorter deadline that is easy to miss.
What can our family recover?
Financial support, household services, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of the person's love, companionship and guidance. California does not compensate the survivors' own grief as such, though a separate survival claim can cover what the person endured before death.
Hurt in San Francisco? Find out where you stand.
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This is general information about California injury claims, not legal advice. Every case is different.