Fort Mitchell Wrongful Death Lawyer
Wrongful death is a life-changing tragedy for surviving loved ones. At the Law Offices of Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, we are determined to bring to justice those whose careless and reckless actions take lives. We can help your family understand what happened to your loved one, learn who is responsible for the wrongful death and find out how much your claim is worth. Throughout the legal process, our Fort Mitchell wrongful death lawyers will stand by your side. Begin your case with a free consultation – contact us today.
How Can Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Help You?
You are already coping with overwhelming sadness and pain after the unexpected loss of a loved one. If you depended on the decedent financially, you are also dealing with the loss of this support. Instead of taking on the legal process alone, hire a Fort Mitchell wrongful death lawyer to represent you. A lawyer can take over your case to allow you to spend time with your family instead. Your attorney will investigate the fatal accident, determine your family’s legal rights, handle the filing process, demand fair financial compensation and take your case to trial, if necessary, to fight for justice.
What Is Wrongful Death?
According to Georgia Code Section 51-4-1, the legal definition of wrongful death is the loss of a victim’s life due to someone else’s legal fault, including:
- Negligence. Negligence is a violation of the duty to exercise reasonable care.
- Medical malpractice. This refers to negligence by a health care practitioner when caring for a patient.
- Intentional tort. An intentional tort means the intent to harm someone, such as a case of assault, battery or homicide.
You may have grounds for a wrongful death claim if someone owed your loved one a duty of care, carelessly or intentionally breached this duty, and caused the fatal injury or illness.
Kentucky Wrongful Death Laws
A successful wrongful death claim in Kentucky must follow the state’s related laws. Wrongful death laws change from state to state. In Kentucky, the statute of limitations (deadline for filing) for a wrongful death case is two years from the date of the decedent’s passing. If the death was the result of a crime, however, the statute of limitations is suspended until the completion of the criminal case, up to a maximum of six years.
Another rule to know is that Kentucky lists the parties that have the right to file a wrongful death claim in a specific order. They are the decedent’s surviving spouse, child or children, parent or parents, and the administrator of the estate, in that order. Siblings, grandparents and friends do not have the right to bring a wrongful death claim in Kentucky.
What Damages Are Available?
A wrongful death lawsuit can force the defendant to pay financial compensation (damages) for the losses that the decedent’s estate and your family suffered because of his or her negligence. A successful claim could pay for your:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost income and inheritance
- Lost benefits and services
- Loss of consortium
- Legal expenses
- Punitive damages, depending on the case
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can not only result in damages awarded to your family, but it can also provide justice. A wrongful death lawsuit can hold a wrongdoer accountable for his or her actions in a way that a criminal case cannot.
Contact a Fort Mitchell Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
At the Law Offices of Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, we are determined to give a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. Find out how our Fort Mitchell wrongful death lawyers can help your family today. Request a free consultation by submitting our online contact form or calling (859) 578-4444 today. Our injury attorneys are here to listen to your loved one’s story and help you move forward with your life.