A fatal accident leaves a family reeling from the shock of losing a loved one, which makes it hard to think about anything else. Different types of accidents can result in death with car crashes, medical mistakes, and workplace injuries topping the list. Even with the sorrow and confusion during this trying time, certain legal issues must be handled. Whether a loved one perished in a truck accident, a poisoning at a job site, or a wrong medical treatment, you must follow the proper legal processes. Nobody thinks about the legalities involved in a fatal accident until the situation touches them directly. It helps to understand the right measures to take when faced with such a situation.
Evaluate Your Case
After a fatal accident, the insurance company is one of the parties to notify. Then you have to consider filing a claim if someone else is responsible for the accident. For example, if the fatality was the result of a fall at a construction site, learn the circumstances. Maybe the work environment was not safe enough. Analyzing the facts can paint a picture of what type of case you have. If it was a car accident, police reports, witness accounts, and any other details can help build your case. Investigations may be necessary in some instances to gather all the relevant information regarding a wrongful death claim, which a legal expert can help with.
Get Professional Help
Trying to pursue justice after a fatal accident on your own can be more overwhelming than you anticipate. Wrongful death lawsuits are some of the most complex because laws vary from one state to another. A personal injury attorney is invaluable when asking for damages following a fatal accident. Never deal with insurance adjusters during a wrongful death suit without the representation of a good attorney. Personal injury firms like Wells and McElwee know how to calculate damage for wrongful death claims. The lawsuit has to include compensation for loss of consortium (companionship), medical bills and funeral expenses. If the deceased was the breadwinner, a lawyer would factor in the lost income and support, both financial and emotional, to the family.
The legal journey after a fatal accident can be exhausting and emotionally draining, which you may not have the strength for after losing a loved one. Having an expert by your side who knows the documents to file and which damages to ask for is a welcome relief. Compensation will not minimize the pain and grief, but it can help relieve some of the financial stress.
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.
