Filing a Wrongful Death Case? Here’s What You Need to Know to Get Started
When any of your close family members or loved ones is involved in an accident, they might suffer extreme injuries. As any experienced Boston wrongful death lawyer will tell you, if the accident was serious enough to cause critical injuries, they could pass away from the injuries they received . Certainly, if that moment comes, you have the right to pursue justice. This frequently becomes clear when you are a surviving relative or close family member saddled by the expenses of your loved one’s demise. You may wonder if you could file a wrongful death case.
You need to find out whether the incident which occurred with your loved one qualifies as a wrongful death to decide if you can file a lawsuit against the negligent party for their untimely demise. Let’s take a look at the prerequisites for a wrongful death claim.
Who is Eligible to be File a Wrongful Death
Once you determine that your loved one’s death was wrongful, and that you could have a legal case against the responsible party, you need to know who can file this case to recover losses and damages from the loss of your family member. According to the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, these parties can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their deceased loved one:
- A personal spokesperson or administrator of the deceased’s inheritance
- Partner of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Siblings of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
It is critical to note that only one wrongful death declaration can be filed for your deceased family member. Two or more of the parties listed above can join in filing the declaration, but they cannot individually file multiple claims .
Assuming you are one of the above parties who is eligible to recuperate losses for your loved one’s demise, you might be wondering about exactly what damages/losses you can claim compensation for in that situation. In broad terms, you are probably most interested in being reimbursed for funeral and interment costs, medical bills, and for the pain and suffering that your loved one suffered right before passing away.
There are also some additional expenses that the family may suffer from losing their loved one for which they can receive compensation . You can be compensated for the lost projected income of your deceased family member if you expected their income to help sustain you,, and for the loss of companionship and consortium if you have lost your partner.
Have a Boston Wrongful Death Attorney Represent You
It is completely understandable that losing your loved one due to someone else’s negligence is shocking and can leave you feeling extremely helpless. Even though you want to hold the negligent party responsible for what they have done, you might feel like it is too big of a step to take right now in the midst of the pain of your loss . That is where a reputable and experienced Boston wrongful death lawyer can help. A lawyer can handle your legal claim for you, and you can focus on healing from your loss.
Having a dedicated attorney by your side will allow you to get answers for all your questions . A lawyer will also direct you through your lawsuit every step of the way. Lawyers truly know how challenging the process can be, so they guide you through it and get justice for the loss of your family member.