When you lose a loved one in death, the emotional scars may never heal. The negative feelings are even worse when they die suddenly because of the negligence of others. Nothing anyone can say or do will bring the person back, but the law allows you to request compensation from the guilty party. Whether it’s a hospital, the city, or even the federal government, it doesn’t matter. However, navigating the legal process isn’t easy when you don’t know which steps to take. We will cover these steps in this article.
Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney
You may not be qualified to determine the validity of the case, but a Wrongful Death Attorney from Las Vegas, Ben Cloward, can do this with ease. Go for a lawyer with experience with wrongful death cases in your area. Check for testimonials from previous satisfied clients who have used their services in the past. It will also help if the lawyer empathizes with your case, which may influence the outcome.
Preserve Evidence
Your lawyer will do some leg work to gather evidence, but it is a good idea for you to help them gather specific evidence about your case. Print out copies of the medical reports, medical bills, and witness statements related to the case. If the case was based on human errors, there should be evidence to support this. If it is based on equipment error, there should also be evidence to support it. Your lawyer will subsequently be responsible for looking for other supporting evidence.
Establish the Basis for the Lawsuit
While examining your case, your attorney will help you determine the basis for the case. Is it negligence, recklessness, product liability, or intentional harm? The basis for the case will play a significant role in determining the outcome of the case. For example, a case of international harm will most likely attract more attention and settlement than a negligence case. When death due to product liability, you may benefit from looking for others with similar experiences to file a class action lawsuit.
File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Since you’ll most likely already have an attorney at this time, they will help you file the wrongful death lawsuit. It will start with an official complaint, which outlines the basis of the lawsuit and the compensation you are after for damages. It is followed by a summons, which notifies the defendants of the lawsuit.
Hold Your Ground the Discovery Process
After receiving the summons, the defendants will respond, and the discovery process will begin. During this time, both parties will exchange information about the case, from sworn testimony and questions to other key evidence. The defendants will try hard to intimidate you into accepting a smaller settlement or dropping the lawsuit for nothing at all. Don’t fold unless the settlement is reasonable enough to cover the medical expenses, funeral planning, and emotional pain the case has caused.
Conclusion
The finality of death makes it very difficult for the ones left behind. It’s not a pain you can heal from overnight. Getting a settlement from a lawsuit can help provide much-needed closure. You may also be relieved that those responsible have been held accountable.
