Coping with a loved one’s death can be challenging to move past as a family. The pain can be even more extreme when you know that your loved one’s death did not have to happen and could have been prevented. If your loved one dies because of another party’s negligence, a family can experience immense pain and grief. In the wake of such a tragedy, your family may feel you will never get the justice your loved one deserves.
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit will not bring your loved one back, but it can provide your family a sense of peace by knowing that the negligent party has faced justice for their actions. Pursuing compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit can help your family move forward financially. For example, family members can recover compensation for their loved one’s medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more.
Holding the Negligent Party Accountable
No amount of money can replace your loved one’s life, but there are several reasons why it could be worth it for you to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Alabama. Many surviving family members want to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions. Knowing that your loved one would be alive if the negligent party had used reasonable care can be extremely difficult for surviving family members. The negligent party may not be charged with a crime, depending on the facts of the case.
You can hold the negligent party or parties responsible through a civil lawsuit, specifically a wrongful death lawsuit. Surviving family members can pursue compensation for the economic and non-economic damages caused by the defendant’s negligence. Pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit also sends a message to other parties who may engage in reckless or negligent behavior. Recovering compensation shows them that there can be serious consequences for people whose negligence causes the death of an innocent person.
Provide Financial Recovery for Surviving Family Members
Many families face significant financial hardships when their loved one is killed prematurely by another person’s negligence. Pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit can provide you with the money you need to cover financial losses, such as funeral and burial expenses and medical bills. If your loved one who passed away was the primary income earner in your family, you could be facing serious consequences after they pass away. You may lose your home because you cannot make your mortgage payments. Your loved one may have incurred significant medical debt before they passed away. Paying for a funeral and burial service can also strain families already struggling financially because of their loved one’s death.
When you file a wrongful death lawsuit, you will pursue compensation from the party or parties responsible for your loved one’s death. An experienced wrongful death attorney can help determine who is at fault or liable for your loved one’s death. They can also work with financial experts to help you calculate the total cost of your wrongful death claim. You can pursue the following damages in a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Medical bills from the time of the accident until the death of your loved one occurred
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income from the date of the accident until what would have been your loved one’s anticipated retirement date
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
- Punitive damages
Why Use a Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a loved one is never easy, and you may not know what steps to take after your loved one’s death. The time after losing your loved one can seem disorienting, and the thought of talking to an attorney may seem overwhelming. However, consulting with an attorney can help you understand whether you have a wrongful death claim. Your attorney will listen to the facts of your case and help you gather evidence and prove liability. They can also help you determine your wrongful death claim’s full and fair value. Finally, an attorney can protect your rights to ensure that you receive a fair settlement.
Contact an Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney Today
If your loved one died because of another person’s negligence, it is important that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Alabama has a statute of limitations, and you must file your claim before the deadline expires. Wrongful death lawsuits can take significant time to investigate, so the more time your attorney has, the better. Please contact the experience wrongful-death attorneys at Heninger Garrison Davis to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights.
