A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought by the survivors of someone who has died as the result of negligence by an individual or business entity. Even in cases of deaths by murder or homicide when the perpetrator has been convicted in criminal court, survivors can still sue the perpetrator for monetary damages.
Wrongful death claims, however, are most often used against corporate defendants who cannot be prosecuted on criminal charges. For example, if someone in your family were killed by a defective drug, the pharmaceutical company could not be prosecuted on criminal charges. Instead, you could hold the company accountable by filing a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court and seeking monetary damages for the death of your loved one.
Whether you have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit, and how much you can expect to recover in monetary damages from the case depends on many factors. You should contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Powell Law to evaluate your case and determine if you have a viable claim. Don’t delay talking to a lawyer. Wrongful death lawsuits are subject to a two-year time limitation known as a statute of limitations. The clock starts ticking on the date of the death, and after it runs out, you forfeit your right to sue.
If you’re approached by the defendant’s insurance company with an offer to settle your case before you’ve had the chance to talk to a lawyer, it is recommended that you do not speak to them. Our advice is not to talk to any insurance company representatives and not to sign any documents. Your best course of action is to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney and let your lawyer do the talking.
While you can choose to pay your attorney on an hourly basis, most wrongful death lawyers handle cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that any fees are paid only after the case ends in a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay any fees.
If you or a family member has been killed by someone else’s wrongful conduct, please contact Powell Law today. It would be an honor to represent you and your family.
