Arabic Wrongful Death lawyers near you

A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil claim filed when a person dies due to someone else's negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. It allows surviving family members to seek compensation for their losses, including financial support, companionship, and grief. Wrongful death claims are separate from any criminal charges that may be filed.

This varies by state, but typically: (1) Spouse of the deceased; (2) Children (minor and adult); (3) Parents (especially if deceased had no spouse or children); (4) The estate representative on behalf of survivors. Some states allow other dependents or life partners to file. An attorney can advise who has standing in your state.

Wrongful death case values depend on: the deceased's age, earning capacity, and life expectancy; number and ages of dependents; relationship to survivors; medical expenses before death; funeral costs; pain and suffering of decedent; and loss of consortium. Cases can range from hundreds of thousands to many millions of dollars.

Statutes of limitations vary by state, typically 1-3 years from the date of death. Some states start the clock from the date the cause of death was discovered. Claims against government entities often have much shorter notice requirements (30-180 days). Consult an attorney promptly to ensure you meet all deadlines.

Available damages typically include: (1) Medical expenses before death; (2) Funeral and burial costs; (3) Lost income and future earning capacity; (4) Loss of benefits (insurance, pension); (5) Loss of household services; (6) Loss of companionship and consortium; (7) Loss of parental guidance for children; (8) Mental anguish of survivors; (9) Pain and suffering of the decedent before death; (10) Punitive damages in egregious cases.

In most states, you can still pursue a wrongful death claim even if the deceased was partially at fault. Comparative negligence laws reduce the recovery by the deceased's percentage of fault. For example, if the deceased was 20% at fault and damages are $1 million, recovery would be $800,000. An attorney can evaluate how fault affects your case.