Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Have Been Recovered for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Victims
In the capital of Silicon Valley, life moves at the speed of fiber optics. But when negligence results in a fatal tragedy, the future doesn’t just slow down—it vanishes. At The Killino Firm, we understand that for families in Almaden Valley, Willow Glen, Morgan Hill, and Silver Creek, the sudden loss of a loved one isn’t just a personal tragedy; it’s a seismic shift that threatens your emotional and financial foundation.
We approach San Jose wrongful death claims with a relentless, trial-ready intensity. We don’t just offer condolences; we offer a sophisticated legal engine designed to uncover the truth and force accountability from insurance companies and corporations who treat human life as a line item on a spreadsheet.
San Jose is a city of high-speed contrasts. It is a sprawling metropolis where high-velocity freeways intersect with dense residential pockets, creating “friction zones” that are uniquely dangerous.
San Jose’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has identified a specific 3% of city streets that account for over 50% of traffic fatalities. We investigate these “Priority Safety Corridors” because a death here is often the result of a known, unaddressed hazard.
As the world’s tech hub, our roadways are populated by “plugged-in” drivers. Whether it’s a tech employee commuting from the Central Valley or a local navigating via GPS, device distraction is a leading cause of wrongful death on the 280, 880, and 680. We go beyond police reports, subpoenaing vehicle telemetry and digital logs to prove that a driver was engaged with a screen at the moment of impact.
The first hurdle in any South Bay claim isn’t proving the accident—it’s proving your right to be in the courtroom. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, the law restricts “standing” to specific survivors.
San Jose’s diverse population often includes non-traditional and blended families. We are meticulous about establishing your legal standing so the defense cannot stall your case.
A catastrophic accident on the 101 or a construction failure in North San Jose leads to a hospital admission, and the medical records act as the definitive timeline of the final hours.
Primary Trauma and ICU Destinations
In Santa Clara County, the loss of an income is uniquely devastating due to the extreme cost of living. We work with forensic economists to ensure your settlement reflects the Silicon Valley reality.
We calculate the “total value” of the person you lost, including:
California law allows you to recover for the loss of “Care, Comfort, and Society.” While you cannot recover for your own grief, you can be compensated for the loss of a parent’s guidance or a spouse’s companionship. We tell the story of the relationship that was stolen to ensure a jury understands the true depth of the void left behind.
San Jose is a city of constant construction and innovation, leading to specific types of wrongful death claims:
While we focus on the legal battle, these organizations help your family navigate the emotional wreckage of a sudden loss.
Yes, but you must act fast. For claims against the City of San Jose or VTA, you must file a formal claim within six months.
Insurers often try to blame the victim by claiming they were on their phone. We neutralize this by pulling “Black Box” data from the vehicles involved to prove where the fault truly lies.
Yes. If the city previously identified an intersection (like Tully & King) as a high-risk zone and failed to implement safety measures, they may share in the liability.
According to the latest San Jose Vision Zero audit, fatal accidents are highly concentrated in the “High Injury Network.” As of early 2026, the most dangerous crossings include:
Yes. San Jose is a primary testing ground for AV technology. These are not standard driver-negligence cases; they are Product Liability claims. In 2026, if a self-driving system’s sensors or algorithms fail to detect a pedestrian in a crosswalk on Stevens Creek Boulevard, we hold the software developer and the vehicle manufacturer strictly liable for the system’s failure.
It can. In 2026, several fatal pedestrian accidents have been linked to inadequate lighting in residential corridors like East San Jose. If the city was aware of “dark spots” in a High Injury Network zone and failed to maintain or upgrade the infrastructure, the municipality itself may be held liable for a “dangerous condition of public property.”
San Jose claims are often significantly higher than in other regions because we factor in Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and high-tier tech benefits. We work with forensic economists to project the “lost career path” of a tech worker, ensuring that future vesting schedules and bonuses are included in the economic recovery to protect your family’s standard of living in the South Bay.
Yes. As San Jose continues its “micromobility” expansion, fatal accidents involving scooters and pedestrians are on the rise. We investigate whether the rider was negligent, or if the rental company failed to maintain the device’s brakes or speed-limiting software, which can lead to a Third-Party Negligence claim.
Generally, California law protects social hosts from liability for serving alcohol, with one major exception: minors. If a business or individual provided alcohol to a minor who then caused a fatal crash on the 87 or 280, that host can be held legally responsible for the resulting wrongful death.
Not necessarily. If the driver is never found, we look toward Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage within the deceased’s own auto policy. In San Jose, many families are unaware that their own insurance can provide coverage for wrongful death damages when the at-fault party disappears from the scene.
Yes. San Jose has a specific Urban Forestry code. If a city-owned or neglected private tree falls and causes a fatality (common during atmospheric river events), we investigate whether the owner was on notice of the tree’s rot or instability. If they ignored an arborist’s warning, they can be held liable for the loss.
If a loved one was killed by a driver who was on their way to a work meeting or performing an errand for a Silicon Valley employer, we may be able to sue the corporation under the doctrine of “Respondeat Superior.” This is important because corporate insurance policies are much larger than individual policies, ensuring full recovery for the family.
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In the aftermath of a wrongful death or catastrophic injury, particularly those involving babies and children, victims and their families are forced into the new “normal”. Their lives are often characterized by multiple facets of struggle; physical, medical and financial. The worry and stress can be unbearable. But, that is where the Killino Firm steps in.
Time and again for over two decades Jeffrey Killino has changed the lives of his clients and their families with recoveries that will provide for all future medical care and day to day needs. The Killino Firm clients are regularly purchasing new homes and vehicles; securing much needed medical care and assistance; and sleeping better at night know there are millions of dollars to take care of them for the rest of their lives.
Yes, the Killino Firm regularly secures multi-million dollar settlements and/or verdicts, however, we measure our true success in terms of how we change our clients’ lives. The Killino Firm is dedicated to its clients and their plight. After the cases are over, the Killino Firm stays involved and available to it’s clients as the journey continues.
At the Killino Firm we care about our clients and we care about our community, which is why from time to time when we uncover a hazard or danger with the potential to harm others, the Killino Firm takes action to alert the public and appropriate regulatory authorities.
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