Bicycle Accident in Sacramento
Bicycle Accident legal information specific to Sacramento — California law, local courts, and deadlines.
Sacramento bicycle accident guide →Legal Information Notice
This page provides general legal information about wrongful death cases in Sacramento, California. It is not legal advice. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your case.
Wrongful Death in Sacramento
Sacramento wrongful death cases reflect the city's I-5 and I-80 corridor exposure, state government vehicle risk given the state capital concentration of government fleets, and the surrounding agricultural community's highway fatality rates. State government vehicle fatalities require state agency tort claims within six months under the California Government Claims Act.
California Law That Applies
CCP § 377.60 heirs standing. Two-year SOL from date of death. Six-month state tort claim for CHP, Caltrans, or state agency vehicle cases. Six-month city/county tort claim for Sacramento or Sacramento County government vehicles. No non-economic cap for private party defendants.
A cause of action for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another may be asserted by the decedent's surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children.
Courts and Procedures in Sacramento
Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse, 720 9th St, Sacramento. 18–24 month trial timelines.
Primary Courthouse
Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse
720 9th St, Sacramento, CA 95814 · Unlimited Civil Division
FAQs — Wrongful Death in Sacramento
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Sacramento?
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, the decedent's surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and the issue of deceased children have standing to bring a wrongful death claim in Sacramento. If there are no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, persons entitled to inherit under intestate succession may file. Financial dependents who were not intestate heirs may also have standing if they can establish financial dependency on the decedent.
What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in Sacramento?
The statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in Sacramento is two years from the date of death under CCP section 335.1 — measured from the death date, not the accident date. Claims against the City of Sacramento, SacRT, Caltrans, or Sacramento County require a government tort claim within six months of death under Government Code section 945.4. Missing either deadline permanently bars the claim.
What damages can heirs recover in a Sacramento wrongful death case?
Heirs in a Sacramento wrongful death case can recover the present value of the financial support the decedent would have provided, the monetary value of household services, funeral and burial expenses, and non-economic damages including loss of love, companionship, affection, guidance, and moral support. California does not cap non-economic damages for private party defendants. Government entity defendants are subject to a $250,000 non-economic cap under Government Code section 985.
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Sacramento car accident guide →Find a Wrongful Death Attorney in Sacramento
This page is educational. To find a licensed California attorney who handles wrongful death cases in the Sacramento area, use these verified directories.