Heading home from a party could have had dire circumstances in which the party who was responsible for driving your loved one home got into an automobile accident. If your family member eventually died as a result of the incident, you have recourse, and filing a wrongful death suit may be in your scope of possibilities.
Negligence Must Play A Part
A wrongful death lawyer is an individual who will represent one or more surviving family members and show due cause, which has resulted in the fatality. There are many stipulations that come into play when participating in a wrongful death suit, and negligence must be proven in order to recoup fees.
For instance, if there is proof that the person who was the designated driver for the evening was drinking alcohol before getting into their vehicle, the impairment will be used as proof. If drinking wasn't a factor but the driver's recklessness while behind the wheel contributed to the accident, this can be brought up in the courtroom, and proof may include eyewitness testimonies, skid marks on the road, and the impact markings from the vehicle hitting another object.
Compensation Covers Many Areas
Your lawyer will need to know about your former relationship with the recently deceased, to determine what type of financial compensation to fight for. If the loved one was a spouse, a loss of wages that is a direct result of the death, medical bills that were incurred immediately after the accident, a loss of companionship, and funeral and burial costs can be addressed. Each personal relationship will be different, and the amount of compensation may vary, depending upon your unique circumstances.
The lawsuit can be initiated solely by you, but if you have other living family members who have been directly affected by the loss, they can be added to the list of plaintiffs and you and the others can seek justice as a group.
This time may be difficult for you, especially when you need to rehash what has occurred. It may be helpful if you attend lawyer visits with other supportive family members so that the attorney will have accounts from each person who is dealing with the loss. A support system will also benefit you if you find it incredibly difficult to answer questions and need some help with conveying pertinent details, which will help your attorney present accurate information during the court hearing.
To learn more, contact a wrongful death lawyer.