When a person dies due to the fault of another person or company, the survivors have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Many wrongful deaths are related to car accidents involving drunk or distracted drivers. However, wrongful death lawsuits are not limited to auto accidents. Lawsuits can be filed due to medical negligence, product liability or other intentional actions that cause the death of another person.
When hiring a wrongful death lawyer West Palm Beach FL victims should look for an attorney with a lot of experience in the courtroom. While most claims are settled without going to court, you need a lawyer who knows how to litigate a case. Lawyers who have extensive courtroom experience are typically less afraid to reject settlement offers that don’t adequately compensate their clients.
If your lawyer is successful in proving your wrongful death claim, you may be eligible for reimbursement of medical expenses as well as payment for lost companionship and lost wages of the deceased. Because it can be hard to determine the value of future earnings or companionship, awards vary widely in wrongful death cases.
The executor of the decedent’s estate is usually the person who works with the lawyer. The case may be brought on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, life partner, other financial dependents or the parents of a deceased fetus. Because wrongful death claims are heard in civil courts, the responsible party can only be held financially liable for their actions. Criminal penalties are imposed by different courts.
The plaintiff in a wrongful death case must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the other party was obligated to act in a certain way and failed to meet that obligation. In a car accident case, this is often proven if the responsible party did not obey traffic laws. A wrongful death lawyer West Palm Beach FL victims trust to represent them must also prove that the other party’s actions caused the death of the victim.
If you have lost a loved one due to the fault of someone else and you think you may have a wrongful death claim, visit Sitename for more information.
