Wrongful Death

Wrongful death claims are brought forward against a defendant who has caused someone’s death, either through negligence or as a result of some intentional action. Wrongful death claims allow the estate and/or those close to a deceased person to file a lawsuit against the party who is legally liable for the death. Though each state’s wrongful death laws vary, these kinds of lawsuits are usually filed by a representative of the deceased person’s estate, often on behalf of surviving family members who have been affected by the death.

Lawyers are completely prohibited from guaranteeing results as lawsuits are simply too unpredictable. According to statistics, a US Attorney or a US based law firm will receive around $2 billion in jury awards and settlements in wrongful death cases, wherein each and every one of those cases was decided on its unique facts. Each verdict or settlement was the result of years of litigation, with all kinds of battles over legal issues, expert witnesses, and so on, where different judges or courts or juries could have reached different results.

Seemingly minor differences or petite differences, like a photograph from the day of the accident or a handwritten scribble on a medical record, can mean the difference between a million-dollar case and a case with no award at all. That is the opposite propensities of winning or completely losing a wrongful death suit. 

There are multiple components of a wrongful death suit. Let us have it point-wise for a better understanding:

• The death of a human being; 
• Death caused by another’s negligence, or with intent to cause severe harm; 
• The survival of family members who are suffering monetary injury because of death, and; 
• The appointment of a personal representative for the decedent’s estate.

There are a plethora of advantages of having an attorney for the cause of wrongful death. Few of them can be listed below:

• He is completely aware of the Legal Process

• He can save your time

• He knows the intricacies of your case

• He Can Provide You the Needed Support

• He can aid you in avoiding mistakes

Wrongful death claims are brought forward against a defendant who has caused someone’s death, either through negligence or as a result of some intentional or deliberate or malafide action. Wrongful death claims allow the estate and/or those close to a deceased person to file a lawsuit against the party who is legally liable for the death.

A wrongful death claim is usually filed by a representative of the estate of the deceased victim, on behalf of one of multiple survivors who had a relationship with the victim. Exactly who those survivors are differs from state to state.

In all states, a spouse may bring a wrongful death action on behalf of his or her deceased spouse. Parents of minors may also bring a wrongful death action if one of their children is killed, and minors can collect compensation over the death of a parent. Where states start to disagree is whether parents of adult children can sue, whether adult children can sue for wrongful death of their parents, whether grown siblings can sue for wrongful death, or whether extended relatives like cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandparents can sue. Usually, the more distant the familial relationship is, the harder it will be to get a legal remedy via a wrongful death case.

In some states, the romantic partner of the deceased may bring a wrongful death claim, not every time a relationship of marriage is required per se, as can anyone who can show financial dependence on the deceased.

If your loved one has died or lost his/her life due to the reckless actions or negligence of another party, you do have the recourse to recover damages for psychological and financial harm done to you or a loved one. It may be possible to bring a suit for wrongful death, which is the term used by courts for a death caused by wrongful conduct or negligence.

Here are the kinds of damages you might get if your wrongful death lawsuit is successful:

• Hospital and medical expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of inheritance the deceased might have left had they lived
• Lost comfort, support and guidance from the deceased
• Loss of love and companionship
• Estate administration expenses
• Punitive damages in cases of severe negligence or wrongdoing.
• Loss of the decedent’s expected income

The damages awarded in a claim depend entirely upon the facts of the case. An experienced wrongful death attorney can review your case and advise you about what damages you might ask for.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list but different kinds of the most common types of wrongful death cases involve any of the following:

• Car accidents caused by a negligent or drunk driver.
• Motorcycle accident due to reckless driving.
• Medical malpractice accidents.
• Nursing home patient abuse or neglect behaviour. 
• Product malfunction or product liability.

While some may settle very quickly, even in a matter of months. But this scenario is usually rare.

Other personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits can take an average of one to four years to resolve or to conclude. Even if your case does not go to trial, settling your case takes time.