Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Wrongful Death Claims In The Event Of Catastrophic Or Accidental Death

Sometimes, accidents can be so severe that they result in death. Heirs of the deceased may be able to pursue financial damages against the person or entity responsible for the death. This is what is known as a wrongful death case.

Wrongful death cases are a form of personal injury case, which are, in turn, categorized as tort law. These cases are heard in civil courts and have two important differences from criminal cases. The burden of proof is different, for one, with criminal cases having a much higher standard than civil cases. The second difference is in the type of punishment meted out, with civil cases resulting in financial damages.

Both civil and criminal cases can be brought against the same defendant for the same incident. Indeed, the deceased person's heirs may pursue a wrongful death claim in civil court while the state pursues a criminal case for the same death in criminal court. Heirs may file a claim even if there is no criminal case. The ruling in either case will not affect the ruling in the other, so even if the criminal case did not result in a conviction, the surviving heirs can still pursue a case in civil court and may still be successful as the burden of proof is different. For more tips and ideas about  visite aqui, click here.

In most personal injury cases, the injured party is the one who is the plaintiff in the case. The exception to this is wrongful death cases, where the plaintiffs can be the injured person's heirs. Each state has its own definition of "heir." In Utah, the immediate family is considered heirs. Immediate family in this case is spouse, parents, and children. For more info about aprender mas, follow the link.

Utah also limits wrongful death claims to one for the deceased person. Thus, all heirs are considered a single group in this type of lawsuit. Any financial award given as a result of the case must be shared among the surviving heirs and responsibility for this distribution falls to the person who filed the claim. If someone else has already filed a claim, you may not do so, nor can anyone else file a claim after you have done so. To ensure harmony and equity among the surviving heirs, it is best to discuss how you intend to proceed before filing a case.

Unlike a criminal murder case, wrongful death cases are governed by the statute of limitations. This statute dictates how long after an incident the heirs can file a claim. Your claim must be filed within two years of the death. After that time, no cases may be brought, no matter how just or deserving.


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2 comments:

  1. A wrongful death case is a legal action brought by the family members of a person killed because of the negligence of another individual. A wrongful death lawsuit represents one of the most complex types of cases in the USA legal system. These cases essentially involve everything from identifying reputable expert witnesses to preserving, analyzing and presenting oftentimes intricate evidence. All of this must be pursued in the aftermath of a life-altering loss that on many occasions leaves a deceased person’s loved ones struggling simply to make it through the day — emotionally and financially. Retaining a trained, experienced Fatality attorney ensures that you will be in the best position to successfully navigate the intricacies of a complex wrongful death claim and lawsuit.

    Wrongful death Attorney

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  2. Additional information: In order to sue for wrongful death, it must be proven that the acts or omissions of the defendant were the proximate cause of the decedent's injuries and death. This means that the defendant's wrongful conduct must have created a natural, direct series of events that led to the injury. The law of each state governs the amount of damages recoverable by statutory beneficiaries. Compensatory Damages, which are intended to make restitution for the amount of money lost, are the most common damages awarded in wrongful death actions. Plaintiffs who prevail in a wrongful death lawsuit may recover medical and funeral expenses in addition to the amount of economic support they could have received if the decedent had lived and, in some instances, a sum of money to compensate for grief or loss of services or companionship.

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