The unexpected death of a loved one is a uniquely traumatic experience that nobody should ever have to go through, and certainly not because someone else caused the injury through negligent behavior. Unfortunately, this exact kind of tragedy happens every day, and if it has impacted your family recently, you know how devastating and infuriating it can be.
While money alone cannot compensate for your family’s losses, demanding fair civil restitution with a compassionate personal injury attorney’s help can protect your financial and personal interests moving forward. You can effectively and efficiently pursue your claim with a Savannah wrongful death lawyer by your side.
A “wrongful death” lawsuit is possible whenever someone passes away due to an accident or criminal act, which, had they survived it, would have enabled them to file a personal injury lawsuit on their own behalf. Only their surviving spouse, children, and parents, in that order of priority, can file a claim in their name.
When no family members can file a wrongful death claim, a lawyer in Savannah could help the executor of the deceased person’s estate file the claim and seek restitution. Regardless of who starts the legal process for this sort of claim, they generally must file suit no later than two years from the deceased person’s date of death unless the estate still needs to go through probate or criminal proceedings related to their death have not concluded by that point.
Plaintiffs pursuing a wrongful death claim may seek restitution in two categories of damages. The first reimburses surviving family members for the “full value of the life of the decedent,” which can pay for economic and non-economic damages like lost future financial support and the loss of companionship the decedent would have provided in the future.
The second category of damages focuses on financial losses sustained by the decedent’s estate. As a wrongful death lawyer in Savannah can explain in more detail, this generally applies to things like medical bills for treatment the decedent received between the accident that caused their injuries and their eventual death from those injuries, costs of funeral and burial services, and estate administration expenses.
The idea of adding a civil lawsuit to your plate immediately after losing a close family member in an accident can understandably feel like too much to bear. You should know that support is available from the bilingual, community-focused, and extensively experienced legal representatives at The Law Office of Joseph J. Steffen, Jr.
A conversation with a Savannah wrongful death lawyer could give you answers to pressing questions and confidence about the steps you should take to protect your family’s future well-being. Call today to learn what we can do for you.