Your Battle, Our Compass:
San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorney
Injured in San Francisco? With 870,000 residents and heavy traffic on the 101, 280, and Bay Bridge, our attorneys handle every type of wrongful death case. Call (415) 969-7889. See all our California office locations.
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Practice Areas We Handle in San Francisco
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San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyers: Fighting for Your Family’s Future
In 2023, San Francisco recorded over 30 traffic fatalities—despite the city’s Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic deaths entirely. Fatal crashes on the 101, the Bay Bridge approach, Van Ness Avenue, and the SoMa corridor continue to claim lives every year. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence in San Francisco, the San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP are prepared to hold every responsible party accountable and secure the compensation your family needs to move forward.
Wrongful death claims in San Francisco are governed by California Code of Civil Procedure §377.60, which identifies who may file a claim, what damages are recoverable, and the strict deadlines that apply. Navigating this statute while grieving is overwhelming—and insurance companies exploit that vulnerability by pressuring families into early, inadequate settlements. Our San Francisco office at 44 Montgomery St, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94104 is staffed by attorneys who have handled fatal-crash cases against trucking companies, ride-share corporations, government entities, and negligent drivers throughout the Bay Area.
Our firm has recovered $250,000,000+ for injury and wrongful death victims across California, including a $14,500,000 truck accident settlement and a $13,000,000 trial verdict. Explore our full range of wrongful death legal services or keep reading to learn how we fight for San Francisco families.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.
Why San Francisco Families Choose Compass Law Group
- $14.5M Truck Accident Settlement & $13M Trial Verdict—Proven Results: Our track record in high-value catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases demonstrates our ability to hold negligent parties accountable for the full measure of a family’s loss.
- Office in the Financial District: Our office at 44 Montgomery St, Suite 1500 puts us minutes from San Francisco Superior Court (400 McAllister St) and the high-crash corridors where fatal collisions occur most frequently.
- 24/7 Availability & Multilingual Support: We answer calls around the clock in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Korean. A fatal crash disrupts every aspect of a family’s life—we respond immediately so you never face the insurance companies alone.
- No Win, No Fee—$0 Upfront: You pay nothing unless we recover compensation. Free consultations are available in person, by phone at (415) 969-7889, or by video call.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in San Francisco?
Under CCP §377.60, the following individuals have standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California:
- Surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Surviving children
- If no spouse or children survive, the right passes to anyone who would be entitled to the decedent’s property under California intestate succession laws—typically parents, siblings, or other blood relatives
- Minor children who were financially dependent on the decedent, including stepchildren in certain circumstances
- Putative spouse, children of the putative spouse, and stepchildren who were dependent on the decedent
A separate but related survival action (CCP §377.30) allows the decedent’s estate to recover damages the decedent would have been entitled to had they survived, including pain and suffering experienced between the injury and death.
Vision Zero and San Francisco’s Most Dangerous Corridors
San Francisco adopted its Vision Zero policy in 2014 with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2024. That deadline has passed, and residents continue to die on the city’s streets. The most dangerous corridors include:
- SoMa (South of Market): The neighborhood’s wide one-way streets—Folsom, Howard, Harrison, Bryant—encourage speeding and produce fatal T-bone and pedestrian collisions at rates far above the city average.
- The Tenderloin: Dense pedestrian foot traffic on narrow streets, combined with vehicles navigating through the area at unsafe speeds, makes the Tenderloin one of the most lethal neighborhoods for pedestrians in San Francisco.
- Van Ness Avenue: High-speed through-traffic on Van Ness, complicated by the new BRT lanes, produces fatal crashes involving cars, pedestrians, and motorcyclists.
- Market Street: The multi-modal corridor carrying Muni buses, light rail, bicyclists, and pedestrians alongside vehicle traffic generates fatal collisions year-round.
- Bayshore Boulevard: Heavy truck traffic from the Port of San Francisco, combined with Muni T-Third crossings and residential streets, makes Bayshore one of the deadliest surface-street corridors in the city.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in San Francisco
Our San Francisco wrongful death attorneys handle fatal injury cases arising from:
- Car accidents: Fatal collisions on the 101, 280, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco surface streets. Our San Francisco car accident lawyers pursue these claims aggressively.
- Truck accidents: Fatal crashes involving semis, container trucks, and delivery vehicles on Bayshore Boulevard, the 101, and narrow city streets. Our San Francisco truck accident lawyers handle these claims.
- Pedestrian fatalities: San Francisco records some of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in California, particularly in the Tenderloin, SoMa, and along Market Street.
- Motorcycle fatalities: Riders killed by negligent drivers on the 101, at city intersections, and on the Golden Gate Bridge approach.
- Bicycle fatalities: Cyclists killed by vehicles on Market Street, at SoMa intersections, and on the approaches to Golden Gate Park.
- Muni and BART incidents: Fatal collisions and incidents involving SFMTA buses, Muni Metro light rail, and BART trains.
- Construction accidents: Fatal falls, crush injuries, and electrocutions on San Francisco construction sites.
- Medical malpractice: Preventable deaths at San Francisco hospitals and medical facilities.
Damages Available in a San Francisco Wrongful Death Case
California wrongful death law allows surviving family members to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Our attorneys calculate every category to ensure your family receives the full compensation the law provides:
- Loss of financial support: The present value of the income, benefits, and financial contributions the decedent would have provided to the family over their expected lifetime. In San Francisco, where median household incomes exceed $136,000, this category frequently produces claims in the millions of dollars.
- Loss of household services: The economic value of household tasks, childcare, home maintenance, and other services the decedent would have performed.
- Funeral and burial expenses: All reasonable costs associated with the decedent’s funeral, burial, or cremation.
- Loss of love, companionship, and moral support: Non-economic damages reflecting the emotional and relational loss suffered by surviving family members.
- Loss of parental guidance: If the decedent was a parent, surviving children may recover for the loss of nurturing, training, guidance, and education they would have received.
Survival Action Damages (CCP §377.30)
In addition to wrongful death damages, the decedent’s estate may recover:
- Pain and suffering: The physical pain and emotional distress the decedent experienced between the time of injury and death.
- Medical expenses: Emergency medical treatment costs incurred before death.
- Lost earnings: Income the decedent lost between the date of injury and the date of death.
Wrongful Death Claims Against Government Entities in San Francisco
When a wrongful death is caused by a government employee or entity—a Muni bus driver, SFMTA, Caltrans, SFPD, or the City and County of San Francisco—special rules apply:
⚠ Warning: A government tort claim must be filed within six months of the date of death under California Government Code §911.2. This deadline is strictly enforced. Missing it permanently bars the family from pursuing a wrongful death claim against the government entity, regardless of how strong the evidence of negligence may be.
Government tort claims in San Francisco are filed with the City and County of San Francisco’s Office of the City Attorney or, for state entities like Caltrans, with the California Government Claims Board. Our attorneys have extensive experience navigating these procedures and meeting the strict notice requirements.
How Insurance Companies Handle Wrongful Death Claims
Insurance companies exploit grieving families. Common tactics in San Francisco wrongful death cases include:
- Pressure for early settlement: Adjusters contact families within days of the death, offering lump-sum payments that are a fraction of the claim’s true value—knowing the family may accept out of financial desperation.
- Blaming the decedent: Insurers aggressively argue comparative negligence, claiming the decedent was partially at fault for the fatal crash to reduce the payout.
- Minimizing future losses: Insurers use actuaries and economists to produce artificially low projections of the decedent’s future earnings and life expectancy.
- Delaying the process: Carriers drag out investigations and discovery to pressure families into accepting less.
Statute of Limitations for San Francisco Wrongful Death Claims
Under CCP §377.60, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California. If the wrongful death was caused by a government employee or entity, a tort claim must be filed within six months under Government Code §911.2.
⚠ Warning: The two-year statute begins running on the date of death, not the date of the accident that caused the death. If your loved one survived for a period before succumbing to injuries, the clock starts on the date of death. Do not delay—contact Compass Law Group at (415) 969-7889 immediately.
Steps to Take After a Wrongful Death in San Francisco
- Preserve all evidence: Request copies of the police report (SFPD or CHP), medical records from Zuckerberg SF General or UCSF Medical Center, and the death certificate from the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
- Do not speak with insurance adjusters: The at-fault party’s insurer will contact you quickly. Do not provide statements, accept settlement offers, or sign any documents without legal counsel.
- Identify all potentially liable parties: Wrongful death cases frequently involve multiple defendants—the driver, a trucking company, a ride-share corporation, a government entity, or a product manufacturer.
- Contact Compass Law Group, LLP at (415) 969-7889: We immediately begin preserving traffic camera footage, vehicle data, witness statements, and any other evidence that could be lost or destroyed. Time is critical—especially if a government tort claim must be filed within six months.
Wrongful Death vs. Survival Action: What’s the Difference?
These are two separate but related legal claims:
- Wrongful death (CCP §377.60): Filed by surviving family members for their own losses—loss of financial support, companionship, and household services.
- Survival action (CCP §377.30): Filed by the decedent’s estate for damages the decedent suffered between injury and death—pain, suffering, medical costs, and lost earnings during that period.
Both claims can be pursued simultaneously, and our attorneys file both whenever the facts support it to maximize the family’s total recovery.
Contact a San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
Losing a family member to someone else’s negligence is devastating, and the legal process can feel overwhelming. The wrongful death attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP have recovered $250,000,000+ for injury and wrongful death victims across California, including a $14,500,000 truck accident settlement and a $13,000,000 trial verdict. We handle the legal fight so your family can focus on healing.
Call us now at (415) 969-7889 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Visit our San Francisco office at 44 Montgomery St, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94104, or request a call-back through our website. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with consultations available in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Korean. No Win, No Fee—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in San Francisco?+
What damages are available in a San Francisco wrongful death case?+
What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in San Francisco?+
What is the average wrongful death settlement in San Francisco?+
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?+
Can I sue a government entity for wrongful death in San Francisco?+
How long does a wrongful death lawsuit take in San Francisco?+
Is there a cap on wrongful death damages in California?+
What if the person who caused the death was also killed?+
How much does a San Francisco wrongful death lawyer cost?+
Talk to a San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
Call Compass Law Group at (415) 969-7889. Free consultation, no fees unless we win. 24/7. Visit our SF office.
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California's
Gold Standard
Injury Law Firm
With Joseph Shirazi and Simon Esfandi at the helm, our firm is a trusted name in accident law in California.
Meet Our Managing Partners
National Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Avvo 10.0 Superb. Loyola Law School graduate. Recognized for his $14,500,000 truck accident verdict and a $13,000,000 trial verdict.
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Super Lawyers Rising Star. Southwestern Law School graduate. Led the firm’s $9,870,000 motorcycle accident settlement and a $2,250,000 rideshare recovery.
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Jerry
After 10 accidents and 9 attorneys, the client met Simon, who stood out for his honesty and clear communication. Years later, after another accident, the client called Simon and was impressed by his professionalism and follow-through. Simon explained everything, connected him with top doctors, and kept every promise. It was the first time the client felt truly supported—highly recommending Simon and Joseph for their integrity and dedication.
Jacob
Jacob was rear-ended by a big rig and left nearly paralyzed for a year. He found Cooper Law Group, and Joseph and Simon personally helped him through the legal process. Over two years, they ensured he got the medical care and surgeries he needed, helped repair his car, and secured the compensation he deserved. He highly recommends them for truly fighting for their clients.
Blandine
During the early days of COVID, Blandine was hit by a car while biking to work. Alone and unsure of what to do, they found Compass Law Group. Joseph was the first to respond with care and clarity. Throughout the case, the team—Joseph, Simon, and Julie—provided support, regular check-ins, and made the client feel safe and cared for. They now consider the firm like family and highly recommend them for their compassion and competence.
Understanding Your Rights:
Frequently Asked
Questions
#1 Do I have a case?
Understanding whether a claim exists is one of the challenges of personal injury law. This is why we offer free initial consultations to help you make this determination and allow you an avenue to vindicate your rights.
We’re committed to fighting for the rights of accident victims throughout Southern California, and, unlike other California personal injury attorneys, we will take on any case if we can help, no matter how big or small.
#2 What is personal injury?
Personal injury involves harm to an individual’s body or property caused by someone else’s negligence. It can range from minor to significant injuries, often requiring legal action to recover damages. We specialize in representing and securing fair settlements for such victims.
#3 Why hire Compass Law Group?
Our client-focused approach ensures personalized attention, detailed case building, and compelling evidence presentation. We’re skilled in negotiating settlements and prepared for trial with aggressive strategies. Our firm maintains transparent communication, involves clients in the process, and utilizes a wide network of expert witnesses and resources to strengthen cases. Choosing us means trusting a team dedicated to your success and justice.
#4What if I didn't go to the hospital?
No matter the injury size, you have rights that need defending. Many injuries seem minor at first but can worsen over time. Ignoring treatment or legal advice risks your health and compensation. Seek immediate medical and legal help after any accident to ensure proper diagnosis and strengthen your compensation claim.