It can be heartbreaking when someone you know suddenly passes away. It could be that you had a nice chat earlier during the day, only to find out it was your last. It is clear as day that facing a sudden loss is stressful for the victim’s relatives.
Wrongful death is a legal concept. It happens when someone succumbs to death due to another person or entity’s misconduct or negligence. It involves many circumstances, and each one can be up for analysis. We will now get into wrongful death and how it works from a legal point of view.
You may not realize it, but several examples can be considered as wrongful death:
- Vehicular accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Overdose
- Accidental poisoning
- Workplace accidents
- Construction site incidents
- Boating accidents
Take note that each of these scenarios can lead to fatal and life-threatening injuries. In addition, other actions can also be the cause of wrongful death. It could be something intentional, like hurting someone with an item or makeshift weapon.
The victim’s family can opt for a wrongful death claim. It allows the estate or anyone close to the victim to file a lawsuit. It could be against any or all parties involved in the death. However, it is not the same concept from one state to another. Some states only mandate that the real parties of interest can file for wrongful death. They do not accept legal workers representing the victim’s family members.
Once the claim progresses, the victim’s family can recover economic and non-economic damages. These damages will cover a wide scope of expenses, including the following:
- The victim’s pre-death pain and suffering
- Funeral costs
- Burial costs
- The treatment expense prior to the death
- Loss of income
- Loss of inheritance as a result of the death
- Parental care, nurturing, and sustenance loss
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of love and companionship
It would be wise for the victim’s family to reach out to a legal specialist for assistance. A lawyer or attorney can help in getting the compensation the family deserves. In addition, the legal worker can also help with a settlement that does not require jail time for the defendant’s side.
In terms of payment, legal workers have a number of ways to request it. A number of them go for the standard payment method – per hour rates. While the legal worker can deliver excellent and professional service, not everyone can afford to pay for every hour. They think that the money can go elsewhere a lot more important. But if the family has some money to spare, the legal worker will definitely be worth the expense. Other law firms opt for a fixed rate. That means clients do not have to worry about burning through their bank accounts to keep up with hourly charges.
All it takes is for a one-time big-time payout. These payment methods vary from one law practice to another. You have to see first before deciding to hire. Another way to pay a legal worker is what they call a contingency fee. More and more people are opting for it. That is why law firms capitalize on the concept. A contingency fee lets anyone – regardless of financial status – have access to legal services. It amounts to a percentage of the total compensation amount a client will receive. But if the legal specialist does not win the case, the contingency fee does not go through. That means the client does not pay for anything at all.
Speaking of acquiring legal services, the internet is the best way to get a hold of them. You can spend some time browsing around web pages looking for the ideal law firm, such as Butler Law Firm, that will meet your requirements. But the neat thing is that you can specify what you want. If you get lucky, you can find a company or firm near your location.
Dealing with a wrongful death is one of the most exhausting things to tackle. That is why legal workers, such as lawyers and attorneys, are here to give you a hand. They can handle all of the legal aspects of your wrongful death claim.
