Celina Nichols
When a loved one of yours passes away, you'll be flooded with emotions. This is even more true if you suspect that someone else's negligence is to blame for the death. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of a lawyer can help you gather the funds you deserve due to the wrongful death of your loved one. However, you can't wait until your grieving subsides and you're in a better mental state to take action. You have to do it now. Here are three things you must do immediately if you suspect a wrongful death.
1. Figure out who has to file the lawsuit.
Not just anyone can file a wrongful death lawsuit for loss of a family member. There are legal designations as to what relations can file. Typically, if the deceased has left behind a spouse, they have to be the one to file. If there is no spouse, the children of the deceased can file. In the absence of children, grandchildren can file. If you are not the closest relation to the deceased, talk to the person who is. Although you can help them through the process of filing, they will have to be the one who actually does it.
2. Gather all paperwork.
Backing up a wrongful death lawsuit can be an uphill battle. You will need all of the paperwork you can get as evidence. Before it accidentally gets thrown away, gather any and all medical bills, statements made by the deceased, receipts from medications, and bills related to funeral expenses. If you're not sure whether or not you need to keep something, just keep it. Your lawyer can sort through everything and return to you the things that are not relevant. What you don't want is for them to need paperwork from you that you threw away weeks earlier!
3. Call an attorney.
Make sure you call someone who deals specifically with wrongful death cases. Not every personal injury lawyer has expertise in this area. The lawyer can tell you, probably after one consultation, if you even have a case. If they don't think you have a case, then you can move on and grieve without continuing to worry. If you do have a case, they will guide you through it—which will take some of the burden off of you as you grieve.
Dealing with wrongful death can be a real challenge, emotionally and time-wise. Make sure you have a good wrongful death lawyer on your side, and you'll be set up for success.
About a year ago, I was left dealing with injuries sustained during a serious car accident. I was worried that I would never be the same, so I decided to start looking into ways to make things right. After thinking about the wreck, I realized that since it wasn't my fault, I shouldn't be left with all of the medical expenses. I decided that I needed to look into things a little further, and I decided to file a personal injury lawsuit. My lawyer helped me to come to grips with the extent of my injuries and helped me to make things right. This blog is all about understanding personal injury lawsuits.