In the United States, there are about 169,936 unintentional injury deaths each year.
Although accidents that result in deaths happen every day, oftentimes, there is a negligent party. If you lost a loved one due to a wrongful death incident, then you’re within your rights to file a claim.
Wrongful death cases aren’t always easy to win, but in this guide, we will give you an overview. Read on to get started.
Hire the Right Lawyer
The best way to prepare to win your wrongful death case is by doing your research when you need a lawyer.
It’s important you get the right attorney that has experience handling wrongful death cases to get the best representation possible.
Before you retain a lawyer, you should get recommendations; it’s important you do due diligence. Asking friends or family members for attorney recommendations is a great way is an option.
Once you narrow down your options, read online reviews to see what people have to say about that particular attorney. You should also ask the right questions to make sure they’re the right option for you.
Identify the Right Claim
Once you retain an attorney, they will have to decide what type of claim to file. The most common claims are intentional death, medical malpractice, vehicle-related accidents, and work-related accidents.
Intentional Death: An intentional death claim gets filed when the defendant killed the defendant on purpose.
Medical Malpractice: When a physician fails to diagnose a medical condition, and it leads to the death of the patient, you can file a medical malpractice claim.
Vehicle-Related Accidents: If your loved one died due to the injuries that resulted from a car accident, you could file a wrongful death claim.
Work-Related Accidents: When an accident or a machinery malfunction results in the death of a worker, a wrongful death claim can get filed.
Although there are other types of claims an attorney can file, these are the most common.
Collect All Proof
After your attorney has filed the claim, it’s time to collect as much evidence as possible. Proving a wrongful death is not an easy task, so you need to put together as much evidence as possible.
Your attorney will help you put together the evidence that will prove negligence led to the death of your loved one.
Sorting Out the Estate
If you’re filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one, you have to establish your relationship with the deceased. For the most part, you can file a claim if you’re the spouse or child of the victim.
However, relationship requirements vary from state to state. In some states, you can file a wrongful death claim even if you’re not legally married to the victim.
This is How You Win Wrongful Death Cases
Now that you know the different ways you can file and win wrongful death cases, it’s time you get the process started.
Start by hiring the right lawyer, file the right type of claim for your case, and sort out the estate.
If you would like to find other useful tips, check out the rest of our blog.
