Studies show that the number of court cases has been falling over the last few years. Despite the decline, tens of thousands of lawsuits are filed annually, making knowing how to hire an attorney critical.
Of the lawsuits, few are more important than wrongful death cases. But how can you navigate such an emotionally fraught issue? The best way is by hiring a professional wrongful death attorney.
If you’re curious about how to choose a personal injury law firm, we’re here to help guide you. Read on to learn more about wrongful death cases and how to handle them. We’ll also look at the role of a wrongful death lawyer in your case.
Defining Wrongful Death
To begin, how can we define wrongful death? When dealing with the debilitating grief of loss, it’s difficult to imagine a death as anything but wrongful.
Legally speaking, there are direct guidelines for when something qualifies as wrongful death. By definition, it relates to a civil cause of action as the result of a party that knowingly or negligently caused the death of another person.
Wrongful death suits commonly are brought against people already facing criminal charges for the event. In some cases, someone can be found not guilty of the crime while still being liable for the wrongful death.
Partially, this is because wrongful death has a lower “burden of proof.” Simply put, it’s easier to prove someone is guilty of wrongful death than it is to prove they’re guilty of many crimes.
Consequences of Wrongful Death
A wrongful death suit typically comes as a suit seeking compensation. It’s rare for a wrongful death lawsuit to extend past damages.
As such, it’s important to know what you’re filing for when seeking damages. You also should know the statute of limitations and who can file.
In California, the personal representative of the deceased can file for wrongful death.
The guidelines also outline the statute of limitations, which is two years. The statute of two years is the case for the majority of states.
There are also extensive guidelines on other individuals who can file, which you can read here.
When to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney
Now that we have a better grasp of what constitutes wrongful death, we can look into hiring a lawyer.
Some people prefer to attempt to navigate the legal system alone. Attorneys are often expensive and managing to go without one would hypothetically increase how much money you earn.
However, this misconception leads to many failed cases. Any court case takes expertise and experience, and a wrongful death case is no exception.
When searching for a wrongful death law firm in the Beverly Hills area, Titan Law Firm is happy to aid you. Our attorneys are experienced professionals who can help you get what you and your loved ones deserve.
Evidence of Wrongdoing
Much of a wrongful death case focuses on proving that there is evidence of wrongdoing. While the burden of proof is lower than in some other cases, it’s still a vital factor.
Unfortunately, simply having evidence won’t always convince a jury or court. A wrongful death lawyer has the skills necessary to manage the task.
Professionals can also further investigate to see whether your claim is valid. The validity of your claim can have massive implications in court.
For example, if your claim is invalid, your lawyer may warn you not to take it to court. You’ll spend money, time, and a great deal of effort attempting to prove a lost cause.
Instead, they may encourage you to seek less, as a court may be more likely to reward the smaller sum. They may also encourage you to change the suit from wrongful death to something more suited to your evidence.
Handling Insurance
Insurance companies will always do their best to minimize their losses. Unfortunately, in a wrongful death lawsuit, this often means attempting to pay out less to the grieving family.
A wrongful death attorney can help you to even the field against the insurance company. While the insurance company almost certainly didn’t cause the wrongful death, they’re often still liable to pay.
If your loved one had life insurance, this is particularly important.
As such, having a professional lawyer can help you not only navigate the courts but also lower the stress of handling insurance claims.
Finding Accountability
In times of grief, the emotional whirlwind can make keeping accountability straight much more difficult.
During loss, you may struggle to define your case. Was the death caused by intentional harm or by gross negligence? While this won’t offer a consolation, it can heavily affect your case.
A wrongful death attorney will help you seek justice and hold the responsible individuals accountable for their actions. They can also help to manage some of the more procedural tasks. Handling the legal process, filing the lawsuit, and representing your interests all fall under their skill set.
Financial Difficulty
It’s common for a death to lead to financial hardship. While we rarely focus on the money, it’s a cruel reality that the financial difficulty of loss needs to be handled.
If the deceased was your family’s primary provider, wrongful death attorneys can help adjust your case. In such situations, the lawyer will aid you in finding compensation for lost wages, potential future earnings, and more.
Not all of the finances are related to income. If you accrued significant medical expenses during your loved one’s difficulties, a wrongful death case may compensate for these. The funeral costs, travel, and other related costs all may also fall within the case.
Seeking a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Los Angeles
A wrongful death attorney is critical for helping you navigate one of life’s most tumultuous and stressful situations. With a wrongful death lawyer, you can rest easy and work to handle your grief while your lawyer does their best to handle your wrongful death lawsuit.
Titan Law Firm is located in Beverly Hills and serves the greater Los Angeles area. Our team of skilled attorneys are ready to help you with any personal injury claim.
If you want to learn more about how we can help you manage your wrongful death case, please contact us here for a free consultation or call 888.848.2656.
