You might be unsure what to ask a lawyer. The greatest legal counsel can be obtained from a wrongful death attorney, who can also assist you in your quest for justice in the death of a loved one. Knowing what inquiries to make will help maximize your session with wrongful death or catastrophic injury lawyers.
What to Look for in a Wrongful Death Lawyer
When deciding whether to engage a wrongful death attorney, ask them a few crucial questions. When you first meet with them, pose the following inquiries:
Value of Your Claim
Your claim for financial compensation for the losses you and other family members have suffered due to your relative’s passing can be aided by an attorney. The survivors may be entitled to monetary, non-monetary, and punitive damages.
Economic losses include out-of-pocket expenses for funerals and burials, medical expenses for the treatment your loved one received before passing away, and the income your family member would have made if they hadn’t suddenly died.
Knowledge of Managing Wrongful Death Cases
Although any lawyer can file a wrongful death lawsuit, this does not mean they are all equally versed in the specifics of these situations. Cases involving wrongful deaths can be complex, particularly when the truth is contested or the person responsible tries to shift the blame.
An attorney with experience in wrongful death lawsuits and skilled at conducting investigations, negotiating agreements, and presenting cases in court may be more successful than someone with merely a cursory knowledge of the wrongful death statutes.
Suppose an attorney for wrongful death has successfully recovered compensation for numerous clients. In that case, they may be more effective than someone who has only successfully represented families in a few wrongful death cases.
Noneconomic
Noneconomic damages may be used to compensate for the misery and suffering that your loved one went through before passing away, as well as the emotional hardship that you and your family have already gone through and will continue. Also, you might be entitled to compensation for losing your loved one’s love, company, support, encouragement, and other intangible elements of your former connection.
Dealing with Case Intrinsically
An experienced attorney may occasionally handle your wrongful death litigation. A junior associate might complete most of the work at some firms while reporting to a more senior attorney. One lawyer may seek advice on specific issues from the team’s other lawyers as necessary.
For instance, a wrongful death lawyer considering a case involving a faulty diagnosis would consult a colleague with relevant experience. You have the opportunity to inquire about the procedures used by the business and the particulars of the claim-handling employee during your initial meeting.
How to File a Claim for Wrongful Death
Because state laws differ in certain crucial areas, things could become tricky. Only immediate family members are allowed to initiate wrongful death cases in certain areas, whereas, in other places, even some non-family persons are permitted to do so.
Some states categorize relatives and allow some people to file cases before others, while others forbid family members from filing lawsuits. Only the executor or personal representative of the decedent’s estate may file a claim for wrongful death.
State laws vary regarding statutes of limitations or the window of opportunity for filing a wrongful death claim. A lawyer familiar with your state’s laws can answer inquiries about these and other issues.
Calculated Attorney Fees
Families still dealing with the sudden and untimely death of a loved one may not be able to afford an attorney on their own. Law firms frequently accept contingency fees in wrongful death claims.
In other words, relatives are not required to give the law company a deposit. The company’s price depends on the amount finally recovered; it is only paid if it receives a monetary award.
Additionally, the company can be compensated for case-related costs like filing fees or document duplication.
Conclusion
Wrongful death lawyers specialize in cases where a person has died due to the negligent or wrongful act of another. They can represent the surviving family members of the deceased in a civil lawsuit and seek compensation for their losses.
Wrongful death lawyers know all areas of the law and have experience providing legal counsel to grieving families. They understand the devastating effects a wrongful death can have on a family and are committed to helping them get the compensation and closure they need to move forward.
Mendes, Reins & Wilander is a personal injury litigation firm, and their areas of expertise include medical malpractice, wrongful death, major and catastrophic injury, nursing home and assisted living neglect and abuse, and car, motorcycle, and commercial vehicle accidents. Speak with a wrongful death lawyer today!