Pasadena Wrongful Death Attorney
Skilled Wrongful Death Lawyer in Pasadena, CA
A death that never should have happened still comes with a funeral bill due within days, a paycheck that stops arriving, and a stack of paperwork that does not care how anyone is feeling. California law lets a spouse, a child, or a parent hold the responsible party financially accountable for that loss.
Our Pasadena wrongful death lawyer at Duque & Price takes that paperwork off a family’s plate immediately, not after the funeral, not after the family feels ready. Brent A. Duque has represented grieving families and injured people across Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties since 2005 — experience that means the firm already knows how the Pasadena Courthouse and its neighbors handle these cases.
There is no wrong time to start this conversation with our personal injury lawyer, and no requirement to have every detail sorted out before the first call.
| CA Bar Licensed Since 2005 | Four Southern California Offices | Free Consultations for Grieving Families | English & Spanish Spoken |
The Losses That Bring Pasadena Families to Our Door
No two families arrive with the same story, but the underlying causes tend to repeat. The cases we handle often include:
- Fatal car crashes on the 210, the 110, or surface streets like Colorado Boulevard
- Motorcycle and pedestrian deaths at poorly signaled intersections
- Fatal truck, delivery, or rideshare collisions
- Deaths caused by a dangerously defective product
- Fatal falls tied to unsafe property conditions
- Fatal medical errors and nursing home neglect
The evidence trail looks completely different depending on which of these applies. Our wrongful death lawyers’ first job is always figuring out exactly what happened before anything else moves forward.
Two Different Claims, Often Filed Together
California limits who can bring a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. Eligible claimants generally fall into one of these groups:
- Surviving spouse or children — generally have first standing to file.
- Other relatives who would inherit under state law — may qualify if there’s no surviving spouse or children.
- A stepchild or another relative who depended on them for support — may qualify based on financial dependency.
- A minor who lived in the household — may qualify separately if the minor lived in the same home as the person who died for at least 180 days before the death, and the person who died paid for at least half of the minor’s support.
A wrongful death claim belongs to the surviving family and compensates their own losses: lost financial support and lost companionship.. A separate survival action belongs to the estate of the person who died and covers what the decedent personally suffered between the injury and death. Many Pasadena cases pursue both at once.
Attorney Matthew R. Price, who earned a trial advocacy certificate at Chapman University, focuses on keeping those two claims properly separated so neither one shortchanges the other.
Why Court Size Matters in a Los Angeles County Case?
Los Angeles County runs one of the largest trial court systems in the country, and case scheduling at the Pasadena Courthouse moves differently than it would in a smaller county.
Under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. A claim against a government agency — Metro, Caltrans, or the city itself — generally requires written notice within six months instead. Determining the deadline to file a case is one of the most important things families can do to protect their claim.
Families do not have to travel to manage a case. Duque & Price meets families where it’s convenient, whether that’s a Los Angeles office a short drive from Pasadena or one of three other Southern California locations. The firm keeps families updated as the case moves through the court’s calendar, rather than leaving them to guess.
FAQs About Pasadena, CA Wrongful Death Laws
What does it cost to hire a Pasadena wrongful death lawyer?
In Pasadena, nothing upfront. These cases are handled on contingency, so a fee only comes out of money actually recovered, and the first conversation is free.
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?
A wrongful death claim compensates the family’s own losses, like lost financial support and companionship. A survival action belongs to the estate and covers what the person who died personally suffered before death. The two often proceed together.
What if my family member was partly at fault in California?
California’s comparative negligence rule reduces recovery by the assigned percentage of fault rather than eliminating it entirely.
What if a government agency, like Metro or Caltrans, was involved in California?
In California, a claim against a government agency generally requires a written claim within about six months of the death, well before the standard two-year deadline would otherwise apply.
What if the at-fault party was driving for a rideshare or trucking company in Pasadena?
In Pasadena, these cases often involve layered insurance policies and more than one responsible party, sometimes including the driver, the company, and even a vehicle manufacturer. For collisions involving Uber or Lyft, families may need to examine multiple insurance policies and parties, so our Pasadena Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help investigate the available coverage. Getting driver logs and dispatch records early matters, since records like that aren’t always kept for long.
Does the firm offer consultations in Spanish?
Yes. Founding attorney Brent A. Duque is fluent in English and Spanish, and a free consultation is available in either language.
You Are Not Alone. Our Pasadena Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help.
No amount of money can bring back a loved one, but your family should not have to carry this heavy burden alone. You deserve time to grieve while someone you trust stands up to the insurance companies and fights to get your family the justice you deserve.
Call Duque & Price today for a free, private talk to learn how we can protect your family and help you take the next step forward.
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