The California wrongful death statute governs wrongful death action under the Code of Civil Procedure 377.60-377.62. While the statute of limitations may be tolled in certain circumstances, most wrongful deaths must be filed within a year of the date of the wrongful death. You should contact a California wrongful death attorney immediately following the untimely death of a loved one in the event that you may have a wrongful death case.
The wrongful death statute allows for creation of an action for wrongful death when the death “is caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.” Because the wrongful death action is created entirely by statute, the legislature–not the court–creates the boundaries for wrongful death actions.
Contact a California wrongful death attorney if your loved one died in an untimely manner, even if you do not think negligence was involved in the circumstances. We will review your circumstances and file a wrongful death lawsuit if the circumstances warrant.