Losing a loved one to death is always hard regardless of circumstance. But losing a loved one specifically because of the negligence or reckless behavior of another person can be particularly emotionally damaging. Accidents happen, but preventable ones are always worse.

Wrongful deaths are those that occur because of the direct, preventable actions of other people. Thus, it is often possible to bring a wrongful death claim court in order to receive compensation for all your expenses and to recover from the trauma of losing a loved one.

What Causes a Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death can occur for many reasons. For instance, motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of wrongful death, as they're often caused by human error or negligence. If another driver was texting instead of paying attention to the road, for instance, they may have indirectly caused the death of your family member or loved one.

Wrongful deaths are usually caused by other examples of negligence. These are events where the inattention or recklessness of another person directly endangered and resulted in the death of another person. Other common examples include:

• work accidents
• slip and fall accidents
• defective products
• medical mistakes/medical malpractice
• construction site accidents

Furthermore, wrongful death claims can also be brought forward against criminal parties that endangered and killed a loved one as a result of their illegal actions. Burglars who fled the scene of their crime and accidentally killed someone are liable for wrongful death charges as a result.

How to File a Wrongful Death Claim

Filing a wrongful death claim is never easy, particularly because these claims have a strict time limit that can vary depending on your state. In most cases, the “statute of limitations” for wrongful death claims is three years, meaning you only have three years from the date of the incident to file a claim against the guilty party.

Thus, putting together a good case that stands a solid chance of getting you the compensation you deserve as soon as possible is critical. A skilled wrongful death lawyer near you can give you the best chance of winning your wrongful death case.

The damages you can receive will vary depending on overall costs and the measure of guilt for the defendant in question. Possible compensation can include:

• compensation for medical bills for your loved one or others injured in the same accident
• pain and suffering damages to account for your physical and emotional trauma
• burial expenses and other costs related to grieving for your loved one
• property damage expenses if these were incurred from the same incident

Dealing with all of these factors alone is never ideal. Hopkins Law Firm can help you make sure that your case is on track to succeed and offer you the guidance and support you'll require to get through this trying time. We'll work on your schedule and help you win your case. Please, don't hesitate to give us a call or contact us on our website. We can offer you a free consultation and are ready and able to help.