Lafayette Wrongful Death Lawyer

Lafayette Wrongful Death Attorney

A person’s untimely death can be a great shock to their loved ones. They might endure financial, emotional, and mental hardship due to the death of the victim. In addition, these types of situations come with excessive amounts of paperwork and frustrating administrative procedures. If you are struggling with the challenge of losing a loved one due to the reckless or negligent actions of someone else, consider working with a Lafayette wrongful death lawyer.

Personal injury claims include wrongful death. Unfortunately, this sort of loss can occur in many instances, including a motor vehicle accident, a medical malpractice setting, and a workplace setting. Families who lose a loved one are vested with legal rights to pursue claims on behalf of their departed family member.

Losing a family member is never an easy situation. Losing a loved one through the fault of another is especially difficult. If you believe a family member suffered a wrongful death, contact the Law Offices of R. Scott Iles for a free consultation. Scott will handle your concerns with the utmost compassion while pursuing the legal rights available on behalf of your loved one and your family.

What Might I Be Entitled To?

It is generally understood that losing a loved one isn’t easy, especially if the loss was due to the actions of another. That’s why the court allows the families of individuals who died unjustly to recover monetary damages, which can assist them in the grieving process. There are many different types of damages that a family in Lafayette, Louisiana might be entitled to, depending on the case, including:

• Funeral Costs: Funerals can be expensive, especially if the family wants a traditional burial and funeral service. If the individual was a victim of wrongful death, they could have been quite young when they passed. A family is usually completely unprepared for the death of a young family member, so the funds for their burial might not be readily available. This makes damages for funeral expenses important for grieving families.
• Medical Expenses: In many cases, an individual goes to the hospital after their injuries, only to die while receiving treatment. Even though a healthcare facility could not save the victim, they will still bill the family for the expenses that the late individual incurred while at the facility. This can lead to added financial struggles for a family, especially if they relied on the late victim’s health insurance to cover these costs.
• Potential Future Earnings: Many individuals who are victims of a wrongful death incident were employed at the time of their accident. Their families probably relied on their income and potential employee benefits to help pay their living expenses. In certain cases, damages can be recovered for the wages that an individual lost due to their death as well as future wages they could have been expected to receive.
• Other Considerations: Even if the late victim was not employed at the time of the accident, their contributions to the household could have still held value. Jobs like cooking, cleaning, yard work, or taking care of children or other relatives could be compensated for if the individual who passed took care of these tasks for the household.
• Emotional Distress: In many cases, wrongful death happens suddenly and traumatically. Events like a gruesome car accident, fatal disease, or other serious accidents can be difficult for a family to go through, especially if other family members were involved in the accident.
• Loss of an Individual: The loss of a victim can never be understated. If they were a spouse, then their partner can no longer receive their care and affection. If they were a parent, then their children can no longer receive emotional support and guidance from someone who is supposed to be a role model in their lives. These types of damages are sometimes called a loss of consortium.

Since every case of wrongful death is different, it can be difficult to evaluate how much an individual case might be worth. A wrongful death attorney can determine a rough estimate of how much a family might expect to receive in a wrongful death settlement.

An attorney can also gather evidence to support your claims, negotiate with insurance companies to receive the compensation you deserve, and even represent you in court if necessary. Don’t attempt to navigate such an important task without dedicated legal support.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is a Louisiana Wrongful Death Claim Worth?

A: The exact amount that a wrongful death claim is worth in Louisiana varies based on several factors. Depending on the situation, individuals close to the late victim can receive compensation for medical expenses incurred before their death. If the victim was employed, the family might be able to receive the lost wages and benefits that the victim would have received if they were not involved in the accident.

Q: Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Louisiana?

A: There are detailed requirements for who can file a wrongful death claim. If the individual was married or had children, then their spouse and any children (including adopted children) can file a claim. If they were unmarried and had no kids at the time of death, then their parents can file a claim. Their siblings could file the claim if their parents are not alive. If there are no other family members remaining, then there might be other unique considerations.

Q: How Long Does a Wrongful Death Case Take?

A: How long a wrongful death case takes depends on the exact case involved. Most cases take at least several months, and some of them might take years to resolve. Generally, the higher the amount that a case is seeking in damages, the longer it might take. Additionally, cases that go to trial usually take significantly longer than cases that are resolved out of court. However, most cases can be negotiated out of court.

Q: How Do You Prove a Wrongful Death Claim?

A: To prove a wrongful death claim, the family of the victim must prove that the party they are seeking damages from had a duty of care, or a responsibility to protect that individual. They must also prove that this person or party breached this duty due to negligence or reckless behavior that directly caused their death. Proving wrongful death can be quite difficult for individuals without a legal background, so it is a good idea to work with a wrongful death attorney.

Receive What You’re Owed

Every case involving wrongful death is different. Many rules, laws, and regulations can apply to different cases in unique ways. At the same time, there are time limits to how long the family of a lost loved one can file a claim. This is why it is so important to speak with a wrongful death attorney so that they can assist with recovering damages for your family. For assistance with a claim, schedule a consultation with the Law Offices of R. Scott Iles today.