It’s the call that everyone dreads. Someone you love has lost their life. What’s even more shocking is to find out that the death could have been prevented. Every year, thousands of people around this country lose their life at the negligence of another person. Dealing with such a tragic loss is overwhelming. An unexpected death comes with both financial and legal problems, and this can all be difficult to deal with when you are mourning the loss of someone you love. What should you do next and where do you turn?
Celebrate Their Life with Funeral Services
Your first step is to get through the funeral. You need the strength in your family and friends to help you in this difficult time. It’s your chance to pay the proper respects to the person in the manner that they would have chosen. It’s going to be one of the hardest things that you will ever do, but you will find the strength you didn’t know you had. Remember, you are celebrating their life and not there to focus on the wrongdoing. You can and will deal with that later.
Gather Records for Proof
The questions and doubts that you have about your loved one’s death are going to haunt you. You’ll want to know what happened, how it happened, who is responsible, and what you can do to avenge their death. These are all normal feelings. Remember that grief comes with many steps, which includes anger. It is okay to be angry, but you need to take your fight to court rather than try to handle things on your own. If you can prove that a wrongful act was committed that caused the death of your loved one, then you need to seek legal representation.
Hire an Attorney
Once you have all the documentation you need, call an attorney in your area. To file a wrongful death claim, you must be a child, parent, or surviving spouse of the person. There is a statute of limitations for each area, and most are about two years. The personal injury attorney will give you a free consultation to ensure you have a case that they can win. When they have verified your documents, then they will file on your behalf of your loved one.
Come to Grips with the Situation
The final step in the grief cycle is acceptance. No amount of money you could ever receive is worth the cost of your loved one, but it means someone is paying for the wrong they’ve done. You will come to terms with the situation and be able to move on. It will always hurt, but one day, you will learn to deal with the pain.
Mourning the death of a loved one is a significant feat. However, having wrongful death accident lawyers to help you to pay for the medical costs and other expenses incurred can be helpful.
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.
