The sudden death of a family member is devastating, particularly when it was caused by someone’s carelessness.
You should be able to depend on someone you trust to answer your many questions. You can trust O’Brien and Ford to give you the answers you may need.
When anyone dies as a result of another person’s carelessness, it is a wrongful death. The term ‘wrongful death” refers to careless and deliberate acts that lead to a person’s death, or that result in injuries that lead to death.
When a person is killed in a fight, or dies as a result of an assault, that is also a wrongful death. A criminal act like homicide can also be the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful Death Lawyer In Horseheads
Lawyers in a wrongful death law firm have education and expertise dealing with the wrongful death statutes in their state. All wrongful death cases are controlled by a set of statutes passed in each state, and no two states’ statutes are exactly alike.
A wrongful death law will control who may be eligible to file a claim– generally, the deceased person’s partner, parent, son, or daughter. Nevertheless, some states permit all children to sue for the wrongful death of a parent, and some make it possible for only minor children to sue.
Even estranged spouses may have the opportunity to sue for wrongful death. Parents may have the ability to sue for the wrongful death of minor children and adult children, depending upon the states’ law. The attorneys at O’Brien and Ford are experts in the statute of wrongful death in the state of New York.
There may be situations wherein a responsible party has some kind of immunity from wrongful death lawsuits. Family members, for instance, are immune from wrongful death suits against one another in some states. Government agencies normally have immunity against legal actions by their citizens, but this immunity may be waived by statute. Do not assume that you may not sue if your relative has been killed in an accident on state or municipal property. In cases in which a governmental agency is not immune from suit, strict time limits may exist.
Horseheads Wrongful Death Law Firm
State statutes regulate the quantity and type of damages in wrongful death suit. Damages may include lost potential earnings, particularly significant if the person was the primary supporter of their family. Medical and funeral expenses may also be included. Some states also allow for damages to the family for their grief and loss of the companionship of their loved one. Punitive damages may be awarded when the death is led to by a deliberate act.
You should seek the guidance of a qualified wrongful death attorney if you believe your family member died as a result of someone’s negligent or purposeful actions. Some of these might include:
– Automobile or motorcycle accidents, regardless of whether your relative was an operator, passenger, or pedestrian.
– Accidents on the job
– A fall in a public place
– An assault
– Medical malpractice
– Drowning at a public or private swimming pool
– An accident in a hospital or nursing facility
Wrongful Death Attorneys Near Me
Your lawyer should understand what you are feeling and treat you with the greatest empathy. Although your lawyer may have handled many of wrongful death cases, your case is one-of-a-kind, and should be given the attention it deserves.
The attorneys at O’Brien and Ford believe in helping people, not processing cases. We will take as much time as you need to explain your rights, and to let you know precisely what to expect when you file a suit for wrongful death. We do not collect a fee unless we win an award for you. Contact us for a free consultation.