Is your family dealing with any of this?
A family member died in a car crash
They were driving or riding in a car and did not survive. The other driver's insurer has already called, and the family is not ready to deal with it.
A family member was struck while walking or cycling
They were hit crossing the street, in a parking lot, or on a bike. The driver says the pedestrian appeared out of nowhere, and you do not know who to believe.
A family member died at work
It happened on a job site, in a warehouse, or on a delivery route. The employer says workers' comp is the only option, and you are not sure that is the whole picture.
An accident on someone else's property
A fall, an electrocution, or another accident at an apartment, a store, or someone else's property. The owner says it has nothing to do with them.
The driver is being prosecuted
Police made an arrest and the prosecutor is handling a criminal case. You do not know whether the family can also ask for compensation.
Family in China, or immigration concerns
The decedent's parents or children live in China, or someone in the family has uncertain status. You worry they cannot take part and are afraid to ask.
How we help
Once you retain us, calls and letters from insurers and the other side come to us, so the family can attend to the funeral and to each other.
We deal with the insurers
Calls, recorded statement requests, and forms from the other insurer come to us. We explain every offer to the family in Chinese, and the family decides.
We handle the English paperwork
Police reports, hospital records, insurance letters, and court papers: we read them, answer them, and prepare them, then tell you in Chinese what they say.
We work out who in the family can bring the claim
Spouse, children, parents, and anyone who depended on the decedent: we confirm one by one who can take part, so everyone who should be included is in one case.
We get the reports and gather evidence
We obtain the police report and coroner's report and look for scene photos, video, and witnesses. For a death at work, we also look for anyone besides the employer who may be responsible.
We find every policy that could pay
We check the other side's auto, business, and homeowner's coverage, and we also look at whether the decedent's or the family's own auto policy has coverage that applies.
We coordinate with any criminal case
If the driver is being prosecuted, we follow the criminal case and obtain records we can use. The family's claim moves forward on its own deadline, without waiting for the criminal case to end.
We document what the family has lost
Using income records, household expenses, funeral costs, and what the decedent did for the family day to day, we put together the family's losses for the insurer.
Remote help for family in China
Everything can be handled remotely in Mandarin. We explain which relationship documents are needed, how to translate and sign them, and how any recovery is divided among family members.
What the family can do first
You do not have to do it all in one day. Take it in order, and ask us about anything you are unsure of.
- Get the death certificate and the police report number：Order several certified copies of the death certificate through the funeral home or the county. Write down which police department handled the accident and the report number.
- Keep funeral and hospital receipts：Keep every bill and receipt from the funeral home, cemetery, hospital, and ambulance in one place. Write down any money the family paid out of pocket.
- Keep the decedent's income records：Gather pay stubs, tax returns, bank records, and a note of how much they contributed to the household. These show what the family has lost.
- Save photos and witness contacts：Save scene photos, dashcam video, and the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw what happened. Ask nearby businesses about their cameras soon, because footage is often recorded over.
- Do not sign anything from the other insurer：The other insurer may quickly send forms or offer a sum of money. Once signed, the family may not be able to ask for more. Show it to us first.
- Do not give the other insurer a recorded statement：If the other insurer asks to record a call, you can politely decline and say a lawyer will contact them. You do not need to explain or guess about what happened.
- Talk to us before the deadlines run：A family's lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years of the death. If a city bus, a government vehicle, a road problem, or public property was involved, a written claim is due within 6 months. The earlier we talk, the less likely a deadline is missed.
How working with us goes
Free initial assessment
Call or message us on WeChat and tell us what happened and about the family. You do not have to cover everything at once. We will tell you what to watch for next.
Written engagement
You sign a contingency agreement that states the fee percentage and how case costs are handled. We then notify the other side and the insurers that they should contact us.
We investigate and organize
The family attends to the funeral. We get reports, preserve evidence, check insurance, and document the family's losses. If we need anything from you, we send a list.
We negotiate with the insurer
Once the records are complete, we present the family's claim to the insurer and negotiate. Every offer is explained to the family, and the family decides whether to accept.
Settlement or lawsuit, then distribution
If talks fail, we file within the deadline. Any recovery is divided among the eligible family members, and a minor child's share usually needs court approval. At closing you receive a written statement.
Fees for wrongful death cases
Free initial assessment
The first conversation costs nothing. We will tell you plainly where the difficulties are and the general direction.
No recovery, no attorney fee
The attorney fee is a percentage of what is recovered. If there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee. The percentage is set in a written agreement before you sign.
Case costs are defined in the agreement
Who advances costs such as records, doctors' or other outside reports, and court filing fees, and how they are deducted at the end, is spelled out in the engagement agreement.
- California requires contingency fee agreements to be in writing, state the fee rate, and explain how costs affect the fee and your net recovery (B&P Code §6147).
- The fee percentage is agreed before you sign and is not changed unilaterally during the case.
- We do not promise any particular recovery or outcome.
Questions families ask
The following is general legal information and is not legal advice for any specific matter. For your situation, contact Lingtu Law APC at 415-547-9999 or on WeChat at lingtulaw.
