How a Personal Injury Lawyer in Covington, LA can Help After the Death of a Loved One 

Losing a loved one is never easy. But when your family member has been untimely taken away from you because of someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing, it’s even worse. While no legal action taken can restore what you have lost, hiring a lawyer can help. Wait…. get a lawyer because someone died? Yes! You see, sometimes a death is more than just tragic; it is a crime. Wrongful death is illegal and can be the basis for a lawsuit against the party or parties who caused the death filed on behalf of the members of the family who have lost the company and support of the deceased. It is brought to court by personal injury attorneys in Covington, LA. While filing a lawsuit is often very difficult to do, but this may be the right course of action when a death is more than just an accident.

Before you move forward, let’s look at some things your chosen personal injury lawyer in Covington, LA will go over with you:

What exactly is a wrongful death in the state of Louisiana?

Wrongful death claims can help you financially cope in their absence. A wrongful death claim seeks compensation when "a person dies due to the fault of another," according to Louisiana Civil Code Section 2512.2. If your loved one’s death was the result of another party’s negligence or misconduct, you can at least take legal action to help you bear the financial burden. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of income, loss of consortium, and alternate transportation.

This isn’t about finances. We just want justice!

In most cases, this is actually the same thing. A financial loss for the person responsible is justice. You see, while a loved one’s death is extremely sad, it also represents a financial loss for you in the long term. A child now has to grow up without the financial support of a parent. A spouse now has to support the family on one income. This is why a lawsuit may be the right course of action, not because this will bring your loved one back but because you will be struggling to maintain your lifestyle without them and it is someone else’s fault.

Who can bring forward a wrongful death lawsuit?

Legally, not just anyone can file a suit on behalf of a deceased person. Family members who may recover damages in a wrongful death case include the deceased person’s spouse, children, and parents, plus any blood relative or adoptive sibling who is "partly or wholly dependent on the decedent for support or services."

I am still grieving! Can I wait?

Yes and no. Louisiana has a one-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims, so it’s important to see a lawyer very soon. While you don’t need to file a lawsuit the day after the funeral, you do need to do it relatively quickly so valuable evidence and information is not lost.

It is time to ask more questions of an experienced, caring attorney. Reach out today and remember, this needs to happen before the statute of limitations runs out.