The sudden death of a loved one is a tragic event that leaves family members holding the pieces of a life that ended too soon. Putting your lives back together after a wrongful death can be difficult. You are reeling from the emotional loss of your husband, wife, son, or daughter, and at the same time dealing with the financial loss that results from the premature death. While it is impossible to place a dollar value on a human life held so dear, a wrongful death claim serves to hold the responsible party accountable for your loss while helping you get your financial house in order following the death.
Wrongful death claims are staunchly defended in court by big insurance companies. They know that these cases can be high-value civil actions, and as such, they look to get rid of families filing wrongful death claims as quickly as possible—and for a minimum payout. For this reason it is important to choose an aggressive and knowledgeable attorney to represent your family against the at-fault party. Russell and Hill and our Auburn personal injury attorneys have been providing dedicated counsel for wrongful death actions for many years, helping our clients get the compensation they deserve while bringing financial closure to their loved ones’ deaths.
The premature death of a loved one, whether intentional or accidental, leaves a hole in the hearts of those left behind, and sadly, these types of deaths are all too common. There are around 12 accidental deaths in our country every hour, amounting to more than 125, 000 accidental deaths in just 2014. The most frequent wrongful death claims resulting from motor vehicle accidents. Slip-and-fall injuries, house fires and accidental poisoning are also among the top wrongful death causes.
Families lose so much when a loved one dies, including the financial support and contribution to the family’s finances. A wrongful death award generally encompasses the amount of money that the decedent would have earned over his natural lifetime had he lived. Awards also seek to compensate the family for any gifts or other benefits that the deceased would have contributed to his survivors if he had not died. Further, the value of services that the person contributed may also be factored into the award. For instance, housekeeping and child care expenses. Other damages may be non-economic losses, but are losses just the same, including awards for mental anguish, pain and suffering, emotional turmoil, loss of advice, loss of consortium, and loss of protection and love.
The process of filing a wrongful death claim is an emotional one for any family. The legal hoops that must be jumped through are intensive and complex, requiring expert legal maneuvers on the part of your chosen attorney. Consult with our Auburn wrongful death attorney to determine the best way forward with your claim. We can help you navigate the complexities of the courts while working toward accountability for the person or entity responsible for your loss. Schedule your free consultation with our legal team today.
