Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorney
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1,500 people died from unintentional injuries in 2017 in Nevada alone. When a death is caused by the misconduct or negligence of another person, it is called wrongful death – a matter for civil court.
Wrongful death can occur as a result of negligent driving, defective products, premises liability issues such as a fall or accident, and many other causes. If you believe a loved one was a victim of wrongful death, you need a skilled Las Vegas wrongful death attorney who can provide the legal experience and compassionate understanding to maximize your compensation.
No amount of monetary damages will ever replace a loved one who has died because of another person’s careless actions. But when lost income or other negative consequences threaten your future in the wake of your loss, filing a wrongful death suit may be the right decision for you and your family. Connecting with the right Vegas wrongful death attorney can be an important part of picking up the pieces, getting closure, and ensuring a measure of justice is served.
What Is Wrongful Death?
For help with motor vehicle or workplace accidents, medical malpractice, or hospital wrongful deaths, please contact us at The Paul Powell Law Firm for your free case evaluation.
Wrongful death can occur under many different circumstances. One of the most important factors in determining wrongful death is the negligence or recklessness of another person. The most common wrongful death involves medical malpractice, often at a hospital.
Other wrongful death accidents include:
- Vehicular accidents resulting in bodily harm
- Air travel accidents resulting in bodily harm or medical episodes
- Premises liability such as a slip and fall or a fire that causes death
- Product liability including any product defect resulting in death
Although each of these situations differ, they are united in a breach of duty – the failure on a responsible party’s part to uphold the legal requirement of acting in a safe and responsible manner. Although the wrongdoer typically does not intend a death to occur, they are ultimately liable for it.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
In most Nevada jurisdictions, wrongful death filings are limited to representatives of the deceased or their estate. Typically, immediate family or other relatives are most likely to file a wrongful death suit. Unrelated financial dependents are also usually entitled to file a suit.
Since the legal intent of a wrongful death suit is to collect monetary damages from the wrongdoer, people who do not have a clear financial relationship to the deceased are usually ineligible to file suit. This includes close friends and co-workers.
Statute of Limitations
In Nevada, the statute of limitations on wrongful death suits is two years to the day of the deceased person’s death. You may not have the mental or emotional capacity to think about filing a suit after the loss of a loved one. A Las Vegas wrongful death attorney can make sure your case gets resolved in a timely manner before the statute of limitations is up.
What Types of Damages Arise in Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death damages fall into one of two categories. The first encompasses expenses incurred by the victim from the time of the incident through their funeral expenses. The second type relates to losses suffered by the deceased’s dependents.
These losses or expenses can include:
- Loss of financial stability based on the earning power of the deceased at death.
- Pain and suffering from the loss of a spousal or parental relationship.
- Medical expenses of the deceased from the time of the incident until death.
- Final expenses of the deceased, including qualifying funerary expenses.
Whom Should I Contact?
If you are wondering whether you should file a wrongful death lawsuit, a Las Vegas wrongful death attorney is essential. Wrongful death lawsuits can be long and complex, and you’ll need someone in your corner to protect your legal rights.
Over the past 17 years, Paul Powell has recovered total verdict and trial settlements approaching $250 million for his clients. At The Paul Powell Law Firm, you’ll receive compassionate help from an attorney who understands the details of your case and has the experience to secure the best settlement possible.
For result-driven help from a Las Vegas wrongful death attorney who truly cares, contact The Paul Powell Law Firm today. You can reach us by phone at 702-728-5500, chat with one of our representatives online, or submit a free case evaluation.