The loss of a loved one, under any circumstances, is a tragic experience. When this loss occurs because of someone’s negligence, the grief you feel may be heightened and mixed with a need to seek justice on your family member’s behalf.
When a negligence-based accident caused your loved one’s death, you could be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit. An attorney with experience fighting for grieving families and seeking full and fair compensation can help you pursue a favorable St. Louis wrongful death settlement.
A wrongful death claim is a type of civil case that eligible family members can file after losing a loved one to an incident caused by someone’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Wrongful death claims can arise from numerous circumstances that lead to someone’s untimely death.
These circumstances could include:
There are several people with a specific relationship to the deceased family member who have first priority to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These are the deceased individual’s spouse, children, or parents. If the decedent was not survived by any such family members, the decedent’s grandchildren can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
In situations where neither spouse, children, parents, or grandchildren survive the decedent, their siblings or siblings’ children can bring forward a wrongful death lawsuit. In the event that no such individuals survive the decedent to seek a St. Louis wrongful death settlement, the court can appoint a representative to bring a lawsuit forward on behalf of other eligible heirs to the estate.
A St. Louis wrongful death settlement can include numerous forms of compensation that are paid to the survivors of the deceased individual. These costs could be tangible, such as the expenses associated with your family member’s funeral and burial. The value of the medical bills your family member incurred prior to their death may also be included in a wrongful death settlement or court award. However, you can also seek compensation for other losses that you have suffered because of your loved one’s death.
For example, you could claim compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced from losing your loved one. You could also recover the value of the earnings and other support you would have enjoyed had your family member survived their injuries.
If you believe that someone’s careless or reckless actions were the reason for your loved one’s passing, you should understand the full breadth of your legal rights. St. Louis wrongful death settlements can provide multiple types of financial relief.
No amount of money can make up for the pain your family is facing. Still, a compassionate lawyer can negotiate a settlement that reflects the value of the losses your loved one’s death has inflicted. An OnderLaw attorney can evaluate the viability of your wrongful death claim and the parties who may be legally liable.
The legal intricacies of these cases make it advisable to work with an experienced legal professional from the earliest stages of your claim who can pursue the maximum settlement and go to trial, if necessary. Call OnderLaw today to speak with a wrongful death attorney about holding the at-fault party or parties accountable for their actions. We are here to help you seek justice.
