Wrongful Death Lawyer in Rohnert Park 

Nothing prepares you for the phone call, the knock on the door, or the moment a doctor says there is nothing more they can do. When someone else’s negligence or recklessness steals your spouse, parent, child, or sibling, the grief is overwhelming. On top of that grief comes terror about how you will pay the bills, raise your children, or keep the lights on without the person who was the heart of your family. 

Many families also don’t realize how quickly evidence can disappear after a fatal incident. Surveillance footage can be erased, vehicles repaired, witnesses forget details, and insurance companies begin building a defense within hours. The grieving family, who's still in shock, probably is (or already has) minimising their own responsibility. Therefore, it is essential to have one of our experienced wrongful death lawyers representing you from the very beginning, ensuring that you have someone who will protect your family's rights and help preserve critical evidence in your case, as well as provide strong representation against big business corporations, hospitals, and/or other individuals trying to escape accountability. 

At Flahavan Law Offices in Santa Rosa, Brian Flahavan has spent more than twenty years helping Sonoma County families pick up the pieces after a preventable death. We have stood beside hundreds of mothers, fathers, widows, widowers, and children in Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, and across the North Bay as they seek justice for their loved ones. We understand that no amount of money will ever replace the person you lost. Still, a successful claim can provide stability, security, and answers during the hardest chapter of your life. 

If your family is facing this unimaginable loss due to someone else’s carelessness, please call us today for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen, explain your rights in plain language, and carry the entire legal burden so you can grieve in peace. You will never pay us a penny unless we recover money for your family.  

What “Wrongful Death” Actually Means Under California Law 

A wrongful death occurs when a person dies because of another party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct. California Code of Civil Procedure §377.60 allows certain surviving family members to bring a lawsuit against those responsible. The claim is not about punishing the wrongdoer through the criminal system (that is, the district attorney’s job); it is about making the family financially and emotionally whole to the extent money ever can. In a wrongful death case, survivors may seek compensation for lost financial support, funeral and burial expenses, the value of household services, and the loss of love, companionship, guidance, and emotional support. These cases often require a detailed investigation, expert testimony, and careful documentation to show not only how the death occurred, but also how profoundly it has impacted the family’s future. A wrongful death lawsuit gives families a voice and ensures the responsible party is held fully accountable.  

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California 

• Surviving spouse or domestic partner 
• Children (including adopted and stepchildren in some cases) 
• Grandchildren, if the deceased’s children are also gone 
• Minor dependents who lived with and relied on the deceased (even if not biologically related) 
• Parents, if there is no surviving spouse or child 
• Personal representative of the estate (for a companion survival action) 

If multiple family members qualify, we bring one unified case so the family stays together rather than fighting each other. 

Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Rohnert Park and Sonoma County 

• Highway 101 collisions involving speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, or commercial trucks 
• Workplace fatalities in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and warehousing 
• Motorcycle and bicycle accidents where drivers fail to see riders 
• Pedestrian deaths in crosswalks or on sidewalks 
• Defective products (vehicles, machinery, medications, children’s toys) 
• Medical malpractice (surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes) 
• Nursing home neglect and abuse 
• Dangerous premises (electrocution, falls from height, drowning) 
• DUI and reckless driving throughout Sonoma County wine country 

Every one of these deaths was preventable. Everyone leaves a hole that can never be filled. 

The Financial and Emotional Realities Families Face 

When the primary breadwinner dies, the surviving spouse often faces immediate panic about mortgage payments, college tuition, and day-to-day expenses. When a parent dies, young children lose not only love and guidance but also the person who was supposed to teach them to drive, walk them down the aisle, or hold their first child. When an adult child loses a parent, the loss of companionship and the reversal of caregiving roles can be crushing. 

California law recognizes both economic and non-economic losses: 

Economic damages 

• Loss of future financial support (wages, benefits, retirement contributions) 
• Value of household services the deceased provided (cooking, childcare, home maintenance) 
• Funeral and burial expenses 
• Medical bills from the final injury or illness 

Non-economic damages 

• Loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support 
• Loss of guidance and training for minor children 
• Loss of sexual consortium for a surviving spouse 

In rare cases involving especially reckless conduct (drunk driving, intentional harm, or gross safety violations), punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior. 

How the Legal Process Works After a Fatal Accident 

• Immediate investigation while the evidence is still fresh 
• Securing accident reports, black-box data, surveillance video, and witness statements 
• Preserving the vehicle, machinery, or product before it is repaired or destroyed 
• Obtaining autopsy reports and a death certificate 
• Identifying every possible defendant and insurance policy 
• Filing government claims if a public entity is involved (six-month deadline) 
• Calculating lifetime economic losses with forensic economists and vocational experts 
• Documenting the human loss through family interviews and day-in-the-life presentations 
• Negotiating with insurance carriers who know we are fully prepared for trial 
• Taking the case to a Sonoma County jury if justice demands it 

We handle every detail, so your family never has to face defense lawyers or insurance adjusters alone. 

Why Insurance Companies Fight So Hard in Wrongful Death Cases 

The stakes are enormous. A single wrongful death claim can easily exceed one million dollars and sometimes reaches eight figures. Insurance companies know this, so they pull out every tactic: 

• Blaming the deceased (“he should have been wearing a seatbelt,” “she ran the red light”) 
• Hiring private investigators to dig for anything that might reduce the value of the life lost 
• Delaying for years, hoping the family will give up 
• Offering quick, insultingly low settlements when grief is rawest 
• Forcing families to relive trauma through endless depositions 

We shield you from all of it. You will never have to speak to an insurance representative if you do not want to. 

The Companion “Survival” Action Most Families Never Hear About 

In addition to the wrongful death claim, California allows a separate survival action for the pain, suffering, and medical expenses the deceased endured before passing. These damages belong to the estate and are distributed according to the will or intestate laws. We pursue both claims simultaneously to maximize recovery. 

Special Considerations When Children Lose a Parent 

Courts recognize that no amount of money replaces a mother or father. We work with child psychologists and life-care experts to document the lifelong impact on education, emotional development, and future earning potential. Settlements or verdicts for minor children are placed into blocked accounts and carefully supervised until age eighteen. 

Local Knowledge That Matters in Sonoma County Wrongful Death Cases 

We know the stretch of Highway 101 where fog causes pile-ups, the construction companies that repeatedly violate Cal/OSHA rules, the local doctors whose mistakes have been hidden, and the judges in Sonoma County Superior Court who have presided over dozens of wrongful death trials. That experience translates directly into stronger cases and larger, faster resolutions. 

No Fees Unless We Recover Money for Your Family 

Wrongful death cases require a substantial upfront investment, including accident reconstructionists, economists, medical experts, videographers, and court costs. We advance every dollar. You pay nothing out of pocket, ever. Our fee comes only from the recovery we obtain, and we never take a penny from benefits meant for minor children. 

If you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence anywhere in Rohnert Park, Cotati, Santa Rosa, or greater Sonoma County, please reach out today. Families often feel overwhelmed by medical bills, funeral expenses, and sudden loss of income, all while navigating unimaginable grief. You should never have to face powerful insurance companies alone. We take the time to understand your family’s story, gather the evidence needed to prove responsibility, and build the strongest case possible so you can focus on healing. 

Call Flahavan Law Offices today or contact us online for your free, private consultation. We will treat your family with the compassion you deserve and fight with the strength your loved one would have wanted. Your loved one can never be replaced, but together we can make sure their death was not in vain and that your family has the financial security to move forward. Our experienced team will guide you through every step of the legal process, answer all your questions, and tirelessly advocate on your behalf, so you can focus on healing while we handle the details.