Gibbons Law Firm: Understanding Wrongful Death Claims

The loss of a loved one can cause immeasurable heartache. It is hard to lose someone you love under any circumstances, but when their death is caused by the negligence or malicious behavior of another, the situation becomes especially tragic.

Depending on the specific circumstances surrounding your loved one's death, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim with the help of an experienced wrongful death attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks.

What Is "Wrongful Death"?

A wrongful death claim is designed to compensate surviving family members for the loss of their loved one. It can arise when the death of an individual is directly linked to the behavior - whether negligent or intentional - of another person. While it goes without saying that no amount of money can replace the value of having your loved one in your life, wrongful death claims serve to ease the hardship of adjusting to life without your loved one physically present.

The survivors may be compensated for various damages, including:

Funeral expenses
Medical costs incurred prior to the decedent's passing
Loss of the deceased person's wages
Loss of love and companionship
Loss of care and guidance that the decedent would have provided

Who Can File A Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Most commonly, wrongful death suits are filed by individuals who were of direct relation to the deceased, as spouses and children, including adopted children, typically suffer the greatest loss of the loved one. However, in some circumstances, other family members, such as siblings and/or parents, may also file.

If they were financially dependent upon the deceased, friends and distant family members may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Who Pays The Damages In A Wrongful Death Suit?

As a general rule, the person who is responsible for the death is the one who will be responsible for paying the damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. The responsible party may be:

A healthcare provider who committed medical malpractice
A drunk or negligent driver who caused a car accident
A criminal who purposefully planned the event
A manufacturing company that failed provide adequate usage instructions for their product
A manufacturing company that failed to issue a product recall upon discovering that their product was unsafe
A supervisor who failed to provide for the decedent's safety

The list doesn't stop there. Ultimately, anyone who is in some way responsible for another person's death may be held accountable in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Contact Gibbons Law Firm For More Information About Wrongful Death

If you have lost a loved one as a result of someone else's actions or negligence, we encourage you to contact our personal injury attorney in Lake Ozark MO. We can help you evaluate your options and determine your best course of action for filing a wrongful death lawsuit at the Lake of the Ozarks. For more information, visit our website at www.RGibbonsLawFirm.com.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.