The Process Of A Wrongful Death Case

When you hire a wrongful death attorney, you are likely not in the best place mentally or emotionally. In some cases, you might also be suffering from injuries if you were also involved in an accident that took the life of your loved one. You may be missing out on companionship, but you may also have monetary losses because of your loved one's death. For this reason, you may be able to sue for wrongful death.

Are you trying to figure out your next steps? These are the common steps involved in a basic wrongful death case. When you understand the process, it can be a lot less stressful to go through it.

Initial Investigation

When you hire a wrongful death attorney, the first steps involve an investigation into the case. This investigation may include speaking with witnesses, going over police reports, examining medical records and bills, and even creating reconstructions of accidents and events. The wrongful death attorney will collect more information about the incident and determine exactly what happened. This also helps them determine how much money to sue for.

Contacting Involved Parties

The attorney may then reach out to other parties, including the organization or individual at fault or their insurance company. This contact may involve requesting a settlement. Your attorney will take care of this so that you do not have to contact the individuals involved. You may simply need to provide contact information and insurance information you may have from the initial incident or police reports.

Filing a Lawsuit

If the other party does not want to settle the case, the attorney will then file a lawsuit at court. The next steps will involve returning to the initial investigation and gathering more information. This process will involve a more formal evidence-gathering process. For example, the wrongful death attorney will gather depositions and other testimonies.

Potential Mediation

Your next step is to consider mediation. Mediation involves finding a settlement without ever having to go to court. If you can agree on a figure, you can avoid going to trial. This can be helpful for many people who are afraid to go to court or do not want to relive the incident.

Of course, no monetary figure can bring back your loved one. The money can help you recover from an accident and bring some sense of closure to the incident—especially if you want somebody to be held responsible for your loss.