How Does a Wrongful Death Affect Your Family

Wrongful death claims are filed against someone who has caused an individual’s death either through negligence or intentional action. Though each state’s wrongful death laws vary, claims are regarded as civil lawsuits which allow a family member—legal spouse, children, or the parents of the victim—to file a claim against the person who is legally responsible for the death of their loved one. However, in the absence of a familial representative, an administrator can file a case on behalf of the deceased member.

Wrongful death happens frequently in a range of circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to car accidents, work accidents, pedestrian accidents, and the like. With this in mind, liability is expressed entirely in terms of compensation.

A wrongful death affects your family directly and permanently in many ways. Here are some of the impacts of such incident:

• The Potential Losses

Although the death itself is traumatic enough, there other complex factors which can make the event an unbearable time for your family—this incorporates losses that were encountered.

Initially, common expenses include medical bills—hospital confinements and medical procedures—incurred since the inciting incident until your loved one’s death.

Likewise, further potential expenses may be encountered due to the loss of the household’s primary provider. The loss may leave your family in a financial crisis. With these, ought to file a lawsuit to seek compensation and pay all these bills. Notably, the purpose of the wrongful death claim is to compensate you and your family for your loss.

However, receiving the full and fair rate can become complicated for an average person who is unfamiliar with all the legal processes involved in filing such a suit. To aid you with this, reach out to a lawyer who will look for expert witnesses to assess and help calculate the value of recoverable losses. A competent wrongful death attorney from trustful law firms like Fasig | Brooks can help execute the investigation and the legal papers required for your case. 

• The Grieving Process

Grief is a process and is the top priority after loss of a loved one. In wrongful death cases, most families are never the same after such traumatizing event. 

According to the seven stages of grieving, shock and denial are the initial phases encountered by most people and may last for weeks. The shock of the event can make reality seem surreal and inconceivable. For a family, it is difficult to make sense of the situation, particularly when the death could have been averted. Shock is a natural reaction by your brain to shield you from becoming too overwhelmed with a lot of emotions. 

Grieving can be difficult when you are already managing financial issues at hand. For this reason, it is crucial for you and your family to look for healthy coping mechanisms to remember your departed loved one. Ultimately, taking initiative to attain justice against the responsible party should be considered in order to achieve closure.

Recovering from loss due to wrongful death can be a difficult phase which is different for each person to overcome. As a type of personal injury lawsuit, a wrongful death case aims to help you and your family receive a sense of closure and peace. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit may not bring your loved one back—however, it can provide justice.

Moving Forward from the Event

Keep your lines open for communication with people who may offer support and aid in this difficult time. Educate yourself further regarding your rights to hold negligent parties accountable for their reckless or intentional actions.

Moreover, bear in mind that a claim can often be brought to court even if the deceased person died prior to filing a personal injury lawsuit. However, bear in mind that certain deadlines may apply to wrongful death cases. For this reason, it would be best to equip yourself with a legal counselor to facilitate the case prior to its deadline.

In addition, a criminal case may be pending against the victim. Regardless, know that a wrongful death claim can still be filed even if the criminal case is still being heard. However, pay attention to the lawyer you are working and educate yourself with how these processes intertwine.

From incurring financial losses to the long grieving process, a wrongful death event can affect your family in complex ways. You and your family may be left to deal with the required steps after such unfortunate incidence. With this in mind, learn to seek your rights through reaching out to a lawyer who will help you attain justice and peace from the trauma.