Losing a loved one is painful enough. Dealing with financial and legal problems that stem from their death can make the pain even more unbearable. That is why personal injury laws protect family members of those who died due to someone else’s negligent actions. If you lost a loved one in an accident caused by negligence, a Houma wrongful death lawyer will navigate the compensation process for you and fight for the payout and justice that you deserve.

What Is a Wrongful Death?

Legally, a wrongful death is defined as when a person dies because of another party’s negligence, fault, or recklessness. This legal concept allows surviving family members or representatives of the deceased’s estate to seek compensation for their loss.

The goal of a wrongful death claim is to hold the at-fault party accountable and provide financial relief for the damages caused by the death. Common causes of wrongful death in Houma include, but are not limited to:

Even if the circumstances of the accident that caused a wrongful death are obvious, family members may struggle to navigate insurance policies, understand legal processes, and claim full compensation. Working with a skilled Houma lawyer protects your rights and ensures each critical step in the wrongful death case process is done correctly.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Case

The deceased’s family members or representatives can seek various types of damages when filing a wrongful death claim. Some of these damages include:

  • Medical expenses (if the person required treatment after the accident but before death)
  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of financial support, such as when the person was the sole income earner in the household
  • Emotional suffering

To prove that the family deserves these damages, they must provide relevant evidence. An experienced Houma lawyer will ensure there is a full investigation of the wrongful death accident, collect evidence, and present it to the insurance company or the judge to show the losses that the family has experienced.

How to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Navigating the stress of a wrongful death lawsuit is emotionally and physically hard, especially when a family is dealing with grief. A competent lawyer will take over all legal action and help guide surviving family members each step of the way.

Establishing Fault

Negligent actions are the foundation of every wrongful death lawsuit. A lawyer will attempt to establish negligence using available evidence. This typically involves demonstrating the at-fault party’s breach of legal duty of care and showing how this breach led to the death of your loved one and specific damages owed to the family.

Negotiating with the Insurance Company

Insurance companies will often do everything in their power to prevent victims from receiving maximum compensation. However, insurance company adjusters work with top-notch lawyers, who are excellent negotiators and know exactly how to put pressure on adjusters to pay the people who are grieving. A personal injury lawyer uses their negotiation skills to make sure the deceased’s family gets the money they deserve.

Going to Court

If the insurance company does not agree to pay a fair amount, or if the policy is limited, family members may need to file a wrongful death lawsuit. An attorney may present the case in front of the judge and/or jury to recover all the possible damages the family is entitled to.

Consult a Houma Wrongful Death Attorney Today

If your loved one died in an accident that was caused by another party’s irresponsible actions, you can seek compensation. To avoid unfortunate mistakes, you need to work with a skilled Houma wrongful death lawyer. At the Patrick Yancey Law Firm, we help grieving families recover damages and support them throughout the case. Call us for a free case evaluation today.