Wrongful death is when someone dies due to the fault of another person or entity, like a company. People, companies, and government agencies can be legally at fault for acting negligently, for failing to act as a reasonable person would have acted, and for intentional acts that cause harm.
A wrongful death claim is a special kind of personal injury lawsuit that is made when a person is killed due to another party’s negligence. This type of lawsuit seeks financial compensation for the survivors’ losses including lost wages from the deceased person, expenses including funeral and burial expenses, and lost companionship.
A wrongful death claim is filed by a representative on behalf of the survivors who have suffered damages from the death. These survivors can be:
Many people, companies, and agencies can be named in a wrongful death lawsuit, depending on their roles in the fatal incident. These can include:
To successfully complete a wrongful death suit, the plaintiffs, (the deceased person’s survivors) must prove that the at-fault party owed a duty of care to the deceased, and that they failed in that duty which was the cause of the death, and that the death caused the damages that the plaintiffs are attempting to recover.
Wrongful death claims are complicated and emotionally difficult for the surviving family members. It is always advisable to find an experienced personal injury attorney to handle a wrongful death claim, so that families can focus on healing and moving forward in life as best they can.
You should file a wrongful death claim when someone’s negligent or harmful acts are responsible for your loved one’s death. If your loved one died in a car accident that was not their fault, you may be able to recover damages from the person that caused the accident.
Monetary damages and jail time are the way we hold people accountable for their negligent actions in modern society.
What money does though, is help you take care of the financial problems that often result without your loved one’s income.
The lawsuit alleges that Pennsylvania Ambulance failed to properly train their employees to assess patients, and, therefore, the company is grossly negligent. According to the lawsuit, the family is seeking damages on five counts, including negligent infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death.
While some states are safer to drive in then others, Seattle is ranked as one of the cities with the worst drivers in the nation. Seattle and Washington state car accidents are becoming more frequent.
As a driver here in Texas, you may be interested to know when and where most car accident fatalities occur. Here is a list of the most deadly crashes, first broken down by road type then by the month in which they took place...
But compensation can be an important way to seek justice and to pay for the expenses resulting from your loved one's death. Generally speaking, the following parties are eligible to file a wrongful death claim...
If no family members pursue a case within 3 months and no survivors expressly indicate a desire to forgo a lawsuit, then the deceased’s executor can do so.
If you do decide that you must pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, however, it is important to ensure that you include these four items in your case...
Because the minor lacks the capacity to enter into a legal contract, how can a minor accept a settlement offer? Can the parents accept the settlement on behalf of the child? Does the money simply then go to the parent? Go here to get answers to these important questions about Texas car accidents and minor settlements.
With more commercial trucks on the road, traveling to and from drilling sites, many believe the 51 percent increase in accidents involving commercial vehicles is no coincidence.
Bill Coats Law specializes in wrongful death cases in devastating car accidents. With empathy and grit, our lawyers walk survivors through the complicated process of financial recovery. Click here for this guide to basic questions answered about damages recoverable in wrongful death cases.
So many pieces come crashing down when someone dies in a car accident. Funeral expenses, medical bills, and losing what feels priceless are compounded by wages lost. What is recoverable? Bill Coats Law answers this common question in wrongful death cases.
It can be yet another devastating blow to learn that the person who killed someone you love in a car accident doesn't have a high enough policy to cover the wages your family will lose. But don't despair. There is a way to seek these damages. Click to learn more about uninsured motorist coverage in wrongful death claims.
After an automobile accident, especially when someone has died, it's natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what happens next. Bill Coats Law, in Bellingham Washington, has put together a YouTube Channel to answer some common question in hopes to help accident victims start on the right path to full financial recovery. Click here to get the answers you need.
Bellingham personal injury lawyer Bill Coats recorded a series of videos to discuss common policies and pitfalls of the insurance claims process. One of these is called subrogation, and is an important concept that accident victims and survivors of those who were fatally injured need to know. To learn more about this common insurance policy aspect, click here.
Negligence can come in so many forms, but in essence means that someone was supposed to do something in a certain way, and did not. This heart-breaking case shows how a personal injury lawyer in Bellingham, WA worked on a wrongful death claim for a child killed because of a long chain of unfortunate events that could have been prevented if not for a government official's negligence.
Jet skis may look like harmless fun and seem as though they are so easy to operate a child could do it. However, they are capable of high speeds and can be dangerous. Jet skis require training in order to use. When that training is not taken seriously, and children operate these vehicles without adult supervision, accidents can happen. Here is one story of how that accident resulted in the death of a teen.
Deaths that occur needlessly due to someone else's negligence are very complex situations. Along with all the emotions that a survivor must sort through, the loss brings up financial questions and concerns. How to pay for funeral costs? And if the deceased was a financial provider, how will their income be replaced? Here's the one thing you should do as soon as possible. Click this link to watch a short video to answer the most frequently asked question of survivors of fatal accidents.
No one wants to lose a loved one to an accident. But to lose someone because of the negligence or recklessness of another person makes the loss that much harder. Survivors often face anger and confusion in the aftermath of a wrongful death, and yet have so many decisions to make, from funeral arrangements to learning how to live without their loved ones. And making ends meet can be more pain on top of what feels insurmountable. If your loved one was killed while riding their bike, it is unfortunately not likely that the insurers from the negligent driver’s car company are going to offer compensation that fully covers your losses. Having a personal injury attorney on your side can make your financial recovery possible so that you can focus on the emotional healing. Click for more information on filing wrongful death claims from a bike accident.
A vehicle accident is scary, frightening, and awful. When that wreck results in the death of your loved one, it is one of the hardest things in life to go through. If it’s because of a truck driver or company’s negligence, it’s unconscionable. While you might want to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties, the thought of that might feel insurmountably difficult. You know it will be a long, uphill battle, and will take lot of mental and emotional preparation. Truck companies can be ruthless in dealing with accident victims, and will be trying to discredit you or simply fluster and frustrate you when you’re grieving, and just trying to stay afloat after a loved one’s death. Is your best option to simply take what the trucking company offers you in a wrongful death claim?
