You can’t take away the pain of losing a loved one. You can, however, file a wrongful death lawsuit to help make up for your loss. This type of lawsuit is brought against the party that was responsible for the untimely death. Here’s what you need to know about wrongful death claims.
You Can Sue for Financial Losses
When an important person in your life dies, your financial situation may suffer. If the deceased was a wage-earner, your family will no longer have that source of income or any related benefits. One-time expenses, such as funeral costs, can also be a heavy burden to bear. In a wrongful death lawsuit, you can request that the responsible party repay you for these economic losses.
You Can Request a Settlement for Intangible Damages
Your loved one meant more to you than just money. A wrongful death means that you will no longer have that person’s love, companionship and emotional support. In your lawsuit, you can ask for additional money to help make up for these losses. A financial settlement may help you feel that the responsible party has done as much as possible to make things right.
You Might Need to Be a Family Member
Spouses, children and parents of the deceased are often the people who file wrongful death lawsuits. In some states, domestic partners, grandparents, siblings and other associates have the right to file a lawsuit as well. Contacting wrongful death accident lawyers in your state can help you learn more about your legal rights.
Some Agencies Can’t Be Sued
As a general rule, you can sue anyone who was responsible for the accidental death of your loved one. That could be a homeowner, a business, a motorist or a doctor. However, if a government agency was involved in the wrongful death, state or federal laws may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit.
You May Have Two Years
There’s usually a statute of limitations on wrongful death claims. Often, there’s a two-year window in which you can file. The clock may start ticking down on the date that the accident or malpractice first began rather than the date of death. Sometimes, the statute of limitations is shorter, so it’s best to act quickly.
You’ll always miss your loved one. Sadly, no legal settlement can bring that person back. Even still, a wrongful death lawsuit may help you find comforting closure.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.
