Wrongful Death And What It Means For Your Family

The loss of a close family member can be devastating for the entire family in many ways. Often, you might feel like their death was wrong, and that you deserve a sense of justice for your loss. In some situations, the law agrees that close family members should have the right to take legal action following the death of a loved one. This is referred to under the law as a wrongful death claim.

Some fatal accidents simply happen and are not the fault of anyone else. However, a death is considered to be wrongful in Alabama when it occurs as a result of someone else’s:

●    Negligence
●    Omission
●    Wrongful act

These are the same causes of injuries that might lead to a personal injury claim, however in the case of a fatal accident, the deceased person cannot bring an injury claim themselves. For this reason, the law provides the right to file a claim to surviving parties. Some incidents that might lead to a wrongful death claim include:

●    Traffic accidents
●    Falls
●    Defective products or pharmaceuticals
●    Violence
Again, Alabama differs from many states when it comes to what an estate can recover following a wrongful death. Most states provide damages to family members to replace financial and emotional losses. Alabama, on the other hand, only provides punitive damages to the estate.

Punitive damages are provided not to compensate for specific losses, but instead to:

●    Punish the person responsible for the death
●    Deter similar conduct by others in the future

A successful wrongful death claim can result in significant punitive damages that benefit close family members of the deceased. At Luck Law, we advise families of their rights and help personal representatives file wrongful death claims against the proper parties. Contact us today to set up your free consultation to learn how we might help.

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. No attorney-client relationship is established by requesting a consultation or by emailing the firm. Information submitted in such communication is not privileged and may be subject to disclosure.