Losing a loved one unexpectedly in a traumatic accident can inflict a great deal of emotional distress and lasting trauma. At Jacoby & Meyers, our San Francisco personal injury attorneys respect what you’re going through and want to offer our deepest condolences.
We know how difficult it can be to accept and grieve the loss of a loved one when you know that someone else is to blame. Pursuing a wrongful death claim in San Francisco may be the only way to move forward with the answers and justice your family deserves.
Begin your wrongful death claim with a free case evaluation with a local San Francisco wrongful death attorney. Contact us at (415) 855-4289. We take calls 24/7 and are here to listen.
Why Choose the Wrongful Death Lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers?
Choosing the right wrongful death lawyer can significantly impact the outcome of your case. With several law firms to choose nearby, here’s why families in San Francisco choose the experienced team at Jacoby & Meyers:
- We deliver unparalleled case results. No law firm in California has more wins or higher settlements for a longer period of time. Our firm recently secured $13 million in a wrongful death case against the city and $11.9 million in a wrongful death truck accident case.
- Our Bay Area legal team has the resources to go up against any defendant, big or small. We are experts in serious automotive accidents and have over 50 years of experience litigating wrongful death cases in California. We’ve been representing clients since 1972.
- Our San Francisco wrongful death attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no fees unless we win. If an insurance company denies liability or coverage for your wrongful death case, we will not charge you any fees for our services.
Our Wrongful Death Case Results
Our wrongful death attorneys have recovered millions for families in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. Some our wrongful death case results include:
$13 Million
Wrongful Death
V.
City
$11.9 Million
Wrongful Death
V.
Truck
$10.75 Million
Wrongful Death
V.
Truck
Past results depend on the specific facts of each case and do not guarantee a similar outcome. Amounts listed are gross recoveries before attorney fees and costs.
What Our Clients Have To Say
“I had an excellent experience with Jacoby and Meyers. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer my questions. Gloria handled my case with expertise and care, ensuring everything went smoothly from the start. I truly appreciate her dedication and attention to detail. If you need a reliable and trustworthy law firm, I highly recommend them!”
– Daniela A.
“Jacoby & Meyers is the best, they handled our case immediately. Thank you for caring about us and getting us through this horrible thing that happened to us. Emily and the team are top-notch. If you’re looking for the best lawyers to fight for you, look no further; they will take care of your case.“
– Leslie J.
San Francisco Wrongful Death Resources & FAQs
- What Is Wrongful Death?
- What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a California Wrongful Death Claim?
- How Long Do I Have To File a Wrongful Death Claim In San Francisco?
- How Can a San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer Help Your Family?
- Common Causes of Wrongful Death in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Contact Our San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
- Visit Our San Francisco Office
What Is Wrongful Death?
California’s definition of wrongful death is a “cause of action for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another” (California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60). A cause of action refers to a civil suit. Under this law, one or more parties can be held liable, or legally and financially responsible, for causing the death of another person.
“Neglect” or negligence in a wrongful death case can refer to any act or omission that a reasonable and prudent person would not have committed in the same circumstances. For example, a motor vehicle driver is negligent if he or she chooses to text and drive and this results in a fatal pedestrian collision in San Francisco.
A wrongful act can refer to any type of reckless or wanton behavior that displays a disregard for the safety of others. It can also refer to intentional torts or acts of maliciousness, such as someone deliberately causing serious bodily injury or killing another person. In California, these acts can lead to wrongful death actions as well as criminal charges.
Contact Our
San Francisco
Wrongful Death
Lawyers Today
What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a California Wrongful Death Claim?
At Jacoby & Meyers, we know the death of a loved one can never be made right with financial compensation alone. However, we are also aware of the financial struggles and losses that often arise with a wrongful death – especially the death of a family’s breadwinner.
Our San Francisco wrongful death lawyers will work hard to achieve the results that your family deserves, which may include damages for lost financial support from the decedent, burial costs, funeral expenses, lost inheritance, lost household services, lost love and companionship, and your mental anguish.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in San Francisco?
State law gives only certain people the right to file a wrongful death claim in San Francisco. In general, first priority goes to the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and grandchildren from a deceased child of the decedent. If these parties do not exist, a putative spouse, child of a putative spouse, stepchild, parent or legal guardian may file (if they can prove they were financially dependent on the decedent).
How Long Do I Have To File a Wrongful Death Claim In San Francisco?
A statute of limitations is a law in California that requires wrongful death claimants to take legal action within a specified amount of time for a valid claim. California Code of Civil Procedures § 335.1 gives claimants no more than two years from the date of an individual’s death to file a wrongful death claim, with some exceptions. It is critical to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid accidentally exceeding your time limit and losing the right to file forever.
How Can a San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer Help Your Family?
After the tragic loss of someone close to you, the only thing you should have to worry about is planning a funeral and memorializing your loved one. Hiring a qualified wrongful death attorney to handle your wrongful death lawsuit can give you the peace of mind to focus on what matters most. Meanwhile, an experienced professional will handle the complex legal process of pursuing justice for you.
An attorney can help you prove wrongful death by investigating the fatal incident and collecting evidence of fault, such as eyewitness statements and testimony from experts. If your loved one died in a fatal motor vehicle crash in San Francisco, for example, a lawyer can hire crash reconstruction experts to testify.
A lawyer can use the evidence gathered to support an insurance claim or wrongful death lawsuit for your family. Having an attorney speaking on behalf of your deceased loved one and advocating for your family’s rights can ensure an insurance company does not take advantage of you during this difficult and vulnerable time.
You Deserve
Justice
for Your Loss
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in the Bay Area
Your family may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in San Francisco if an individual’s death was caused by a preventable accident. This can refer to a wide range of scenarios, including:
- Motor vehicle accident
- Truck accident
- Pedestrian accident
- Bicycle accident
- Premises liability accident
- Workplace accident
- Construction accidents
- Dog attack
- Slip and fall accident
- Negligent security issue
- Defective product
- Brain injury
- Medical malpractice
- Physical abuse or neglect
- Spinal cord injury
- Act of violence
Unlike a criminal case, establishing a wrongful death claim does not require proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the defendant caused the victim’s death. Only a “preponderance of the evidence” is required, meaning evidence showing the claim is “more likely than not to be true.”
Contact Our San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
At Jacoby & Meyers, we are passionate in our belief that the wrongfully killed deserve justice. Our wrongful death lawyers will work tirelessly on your family’s behalf to get to the bottom of the cause of death of your loved one and who can be held legally responsible in San Francisco. We care about our clients and will treat your family like our own.
Contact us today to begin your case with a free, no-pressure consultation with a San Francisco wrongful death lawyer. You can fill out the contact form on our website or call us anytime at (415) 855-4289.
Visit Our San Francisco Office
Our San Francisco law office is conveniently located near Chinatown and Union Square. Visit us at:
50 California St Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94111