San Diego
Wrongful Death
Attorney
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a family can face—especially when their death was caused by someone else’s careless or wrongful conduct. At Hulburt Law Firm, we represent spouses, children, parents, and other family members in serious wrongful death cases arising from fatal vehicle crashes, construction incidents, hazardous products, dangerous premises, and other preventable events.
Our Approach
Throughout your wrongful death case, we keep you informed, answer your questions, and explain each step in clear, compassionate terms. Because we limit the number of serious injury and death cases we accept, we’re able to devote the time needed to understand your loved one’s life, investigate how the incident occurred, and identify every person or company that may share responsibility.
Wrongful death cases can involve multiple family members, complex estate and insurance issues, and strict deadlines—especially when a government entity or dangerous product is involved. Our role is to handle the legal and factual complexity so that you and your family can focus on grieving and healing.
If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s conduct in or around San Diego, we invite you to contact us for a free case review.
Navigate the Law
Understand and manage the complexities of your case with an expert legal team on your side.
Gather Crucial Evidence
Our legal team collects crucial evidence to present a compelling case.
Negotiate Settlements
We handle negotiations with insurance companies and opposing parties in order to achieve the highest settlements possible.
Representation in Court
Our experienced attorneys provide skilled representation if your case goes to trial.
Case Results
Our attorneys have a proven track record of achieving extraordinary results.
A sudden tire failure caused an SUV to fishtail and crash into a tree on the side of a San Diego County highway, killing a beloved husband and father.
A massive, improperly installed gate collapsed on a sub-contracted worker who was asked by the general contractor to paint it, causing his tragic death.
A concrete block wall wasn't properly supported and fell on a construction worker in El Cajon, killing him.
An event producer’s negligence led to a participant’s death in a vehicle collision.
A defective airplane engine ignition component caused a deadly crash in San Diego.
Campus security was speeding and collided with a student’s vehicle, killing her.
The Harm
A San Diego construction worker was tragically killed when a concrete block wall collapsed onto him as he was digging a trench nearby. The general contractor quickly shifted blame to the subcontractor who employed the worker, alleging they failed to properly brace the wall.
The Truth
Attorney Conor Hulburt refused to let the truth be buried. He contacted every shoring company in the region in search of an expert witness—and found a critical piece of evidence. One shoring engineer revealed he had previously visited the site at the request of the general contractor and warned them the wall was dangerously unstable. He had even proposed a comprehensive safety plan to prevent collapse. The general contractor ignored that advice and never warned the subcontractor or provided the safety measures recommended.
Justice
Conor exposed the deliberate choice to cut corners—a decision that cost a man his life. Faced with undeniable evidence of negligence and concealment, the general contractor entered into a confidential settlement with the worker’s family. The resolution provided some measure of justice for a preventable tragedy—and a powerful reminder that safety should never be sacrificed for savings.
If your family is facing a loss like this, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Request a free wrongful death case review to talk with a San Diego attorney about your options and next steps.
How It Works
Free Case Review
During your free case review, we listen to what happened, who your loved one was, and what questions your family has. We review any information you already have—such as police reports, incident reports, or insurance letters—and give an honest assessment of whether a wrongful death case may be available under California law. This conversation is confidential and there is no obligation to move forward.
Initial Investigation
If you decide to work with us, we begin a careful investigation into the incident that took your loved one’s life. That may include collecting reports, photographs, and video; interviewing witnesses; preserving physical evidence; and requesting records from companies, agencies, or other parties involved. Our goal at this stage is to understand how and why the death occurred and to secure key evidence before it is lost or changed.
Liability Analysis
With the basic facts in place, we identify all individuals, companies, and entities that may bear responsibility for your loved one’s death. In many cases, that means working with experts such as accident reconstructionists, medical specialists, product engineers, or industry professionals. Together, we piece together what should have been done differently and develop the evidence needed to prove fault in a wrongful death case.
Evaluating Your Loss
Wrongful death cases are about more than numbers—they are about the relationship your family lost. We work with you to document funeral and burial expenses, the financial support your loved one provided, and the loss of their love, companionship, guidance, and household services. In appropriate cases, we may also coordinate with economic and vocational experts to help explain the long-term financial impact of the loss on your family.
Settlement Negotiations
Once we have a clear picture of what happened and what your family has lost, we present the case to the insurance companies and defense lawyers involved. We handle the day-to-day communications so you do not have to, and we push back against efforts to minimize your loved one’s life or the impact of their death. Throughout negotiations, we keep you updated, explain any settlement offers in plain language, and help you evaluate whether they are fair in light of your circumstances.
Litigation & Trial Representation
If a fair resolution cannot be reached through negotiation, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and present your case in court. Litigation can involve exchanging information, taking depositions, and, when necessary, preparing for trial. At every stage, we work to tell your loved one’s story respectfully and clearly—through your testimony, other witnesses, and expert evidence—so that judges and juries understand both how the death occurred and what the loss has meant for your family.
California Wrongful Death Law: Key Points for Families
California’s wrongful death laws provide a civil remedy for certain surviving family members and dependents when a loved one dies because of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct. The goal is to compensate the family for the losses they suffer as a result of the death, separate from any criminal case that may also be filed.
What Is Wrongful Death Under California Law?
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California?
What Must Be Proven in a California Wrongful Death Case?
Compensation in California Wrongful Death Cases
What Happens If Your Loved One Was Partly at Fault?
Deadlines to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California
The Hulburt Law Difference
In-Depth Investigations
Forget surface-level research and mediocre inquiries. We dive deep to conduct extensive investigations and gather evidence in order to build your strongest case.
Tech-Forward Approach
We use technology to your advantage. By using video and photography, scene recreations, and graphics, we tell your story in a visually-compelling way that other law firms cannot match.
Maximum Compensation
Defense attorneys and insurance companies know us and respect us. We assess the full extent of your damages and pursue all responsible parties in order to maximize the compensation you deserve.
The Right Experience
Catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases are rarely simple. We have taken on the largest corporations, insurance companies, and defense firms in the country and won.
Genuine Care
We understand how important it is to have a compassionate and considerate lawyer. From providing regular case updates to ensuring clients are adequately prepared for each step of the case, we continually demonstrate our care for all of our clients.
Wrongful Death
FAQs
Do I need a wrongful death attorney in San Diego?
How much does it cost to hire a wrongful death lawyer?
Who can bring a wrongful death claim in California?
What damages are available in a California wrongful death case?
What is California’s “one-action rule” in wrongful death cases?
What is a survival claim in California?
What is pre-death pain and suffering in a survival claim?
What is the time limit for bringing a wrongful death lawsuit in California?
How long does a wrongful death case usually take?
What are common causes of wrongful death in California?
Will I owe taxes on a wrongful death settlement?
Request a Free Case Review
Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.
The Hulburt Law Firm specializes in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases in San Diego, California.
