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If your loved one passed away in a fatal accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation. A wrongful death lawsuit allows you to pursue compensation from a vehicle operator, employer, or another at-fault party whose recklessness or inaction caused or contributed to your loved one’s injuries.
A Columbus wrongful death lawyer from our firm may be able to manage this process on your behalf. The money you recover can go towards funeral and burial costs, living expenses, unpaid medical bills, and more.
Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
Working with Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC on Your Case
- You Can Start Now at No Cost
How Wrongful Deaths Occur
- Vehicle Accidents
- Workplace Injuries
- Construction Accidents
Wrongful Death Insurance
Liability in Wrongful Death Cases
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Today
Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
Depending on the details of your case and your relationship with the deceased, you may be able to cover the following damages in a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Funeral and burial costs: In addition to bills associated with laying your loved one to rest, you can seek compensation for the cost of settling their estate.
- Pre-death medical care: Did your loved one survive the accident long enough to receive emergency or even long-term treatment? If they did not receive compensation for these expenses during their lifetime, you could recoup those costs on their behalf.
- Loss of income: Your loved one survived the initial injury but was unable to work as much as they did before.
- Loss of financial support: This differs from loss of income. It is an estimate of how much the deceased would have earned over their lifetime and how much of that income would have gone to support you.
- Loss of companionship: The deceased was an invaluable source of love, emotional support, and comfort while they were alive.
- Pain and suffering: The accident was traumatizing for your loved one, and the injuries they sustained caused substantial distress. Also, watching them suffer and having to grieve their passing was traumatic for you.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help you collect evidence of your damages and their value.
Working with Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC on Your Case
A wrongful death lawyer from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can manage all aspects of your Columbus case. This may include:
- Communicating with all parties on your behalf
- Filing your insurance claim and/ or lawsuit
- Determining who is responsible for your loved one’s death
- Investigating the accident and collecting evidence against the liable party
- Quantifying your losses
- Submitting all forms and paperwork within deadlines
- Negotiating for a fair settlement offer on your behalf
- Drawing up the settlement agreement
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary
We can also answer your questions and keep you updated on the progress of your case throughout this process.
You Can Start Now at no Cost
Per G.S. § 1-53, there is a general two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits in North Carolina. Waiting longer than this deadline to take legal action could result in your lawsuit being dismissed. If this happens, you may be unable to recover compensation.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC may be able to offer you representation on a contingency-fee basis with no up-front payment required. We do not collect attorney’s fees in this arrangement unless and until you recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
How Wrongful Deaths Occur
Any accidental death caused by another party’s negligence may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. There are many ways an accident can lead to death. Below are a few common causes of wrongful death and examples of who may be at fault for the accidents in question.
Vehicle Accidents
Anyone operating a vehicle on the road must obey traffic laws and take reasonable actions to avoid inflicting harm on others. A failure to do so may be tantamount to negligence and can lead to a car wreck and a wrongful death suit.
For example, a driver may be liable for wrongful death damages if they:
- Drive while intoxicated, drowsy, or distracted
- Drive recklessly or too fast for the conditions
- Do not follow safe driving laws, such as yielding the right of way
Similarly, a vehicle mechanic or cargo loading team may be liable for wrongful death damages if poor servicing or improper cargo loading lead to an accident. Even a town or city can be held liable for wrongful death if a lack of road repairs causes or contributes to a fatal traffic accident.
Workplace Injuries
Accidents in the workplace can be fatal. If your loved one’s death occurred at work and they were covered by a workers’ compensation policy, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC may be able to help you pursue workers’ compensation death benefits.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites can be very dangerous for employees, building occupants, and passersby. According to the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction site injuries can occur due to:
- Improper use of equipment
- Falls from heights
- Electrocution
- Exposure to dangerous substances
- Getting crushed or caught by machinery
If proper precautions are not taken by the site owner or the contractor, the risk of a deadly accident may increase.
Wrongful Death Insurance
Whose insurance pays for your damages? That depends on the circumstances.
Certain wrongful death accidents may involve premises liability insurance. Workplace fatalities may involve workers’ compensation insurance. Vehicle accidents can involve collision coverage, personal liability coverage, or uninsured motorist coverage, among other types of insurance.
Trying to determine whose insurance is responsible for paying your compensation can be very difficult. This is especially true if there is more than one liable party. Let us figure out which insurers are involved and negotiate with them on your behalf.
Liability in Wrongful Death Cases
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help you identify the responsible party in your loved one’s accident and inform you about your options for pursuing compensation. Then, we can help you build a case with evidence of the responsible party’s liability. This evidence may include:
- A police report
- Photos or videos from the scene of the accident
- Medical or coroner records
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- Maintenance and driving logs
- And more
We can use this evidence to prove that the at-fault party owed your loved one a duty of care and that their failure to perform this duty caused your loved one’s fatal accident.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Today
You do not need to face a wrongful death case alone. A wrongful death lawyer from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC may be able to fight for compensation on your behalf while you concentrate on your family’s well-being.
The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get started on your Columbus case. For a free case review with a member of our team, call (828) 286-3866. We can discuss your options, our services, and what specific deadlines pertain to your case during this call.
