Wrongful death lawyers represent eligible family members or estates when a person dies because of another party’s negligence, wrongful conduct, or certain intentional acts. Claims may arise from car accidents, truck crashes, medical malpractice, workplace incidents, defective products, unsafe property conditions, or other fatal events. Compare attorneys based on wrongful death experience, related practice focus, litigation background, location, fees, consultation options, and familiarity with the laws that apply in your state.
Wrongful death claims can arise from many different circumstances. Depending on the facts of the case, attorneys may handle claims involving:
| Wrongful Death Claim | Survival Action | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Focuses on losses suffered by eligible survivors because of the death. | Focuses on claims the deceased person could have pursued if they had survived. |
| Possible losses | May involve lost financial support, funeral expenses, and certain family losses. | May involve medical expenses, lost income, or other losses before death. |
| Who files | Who can file depends on state law. | Usually brought through the deceased person’s estate. |
Depending on state law and the circumstances of the death, a wrongful death claim may involve compensation for:
Wrongful death cases can involve complex legal, financial, and factual issues. When comparing attorneys, consider more than general personal injury experience. Look at:
FindTheLawyers helps families compare wrongful death attorneys across the United States without requiring registration. Browse lawyer profiles by state or city, review professional backgrounds, related practice areas, office locations, consultation options, and case focus, then contact attorneys directly to discuss a potential wrongful death claim.
What does a wrongful death lawyer do?
A wrongful death lawyer investigates the circumstances surrounding a person’s death, identifies potentially responsible parties, reviews available evidence, evaluates financial and personal losses, handles insurance negotiations, and may file a lawsuit on behalf of eligible family members or the estate when appropriate.
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Who may file depends on state law. Depending on the jurisdiction, eligible parties may include a surviving spouse, children, parents, certain relatives, or the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate.
What types of accidents can lead to a wrongful death claim?
Wrongful death claims may arise from fatal car crashes, truck accidents, medical malpractice, workplace incidents, defective products, unsafe property conditions, pedestrian accidents, nursing home negligence, and other situations involving alleged negligence or wrongful conduct.
What damages may be available in a wrongful death case?
Depending on state law, damages may include funeral expenses, medical costs related to the fatal injury, lost financial support, loss of benefits, loss of household services, loss of companionship, and other legally recognized losses.
How long do you have to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
The filing deadline varies by state and may depend on the cause of death, the parties involved, when certain facts were discovered, and other legal factors. Some claims may also have additional notice requirements.