Bloomington Wrongful Death Lawyer
Nobody should ever have to go through the devastating experience of losing a loved one due to another party’s negligent or careless actions. Yet accidents occur much more often than most of us would like to imagine, and sometimes accidents result in life-threatening and fatal injuries. We know how difficult it can be to think beyond your grief after a loved one has died in an accident, but we also know how critical it is for you to obtain the financial compensation you need to cover medical bills, funeral costs, and lost wages resulting from the death of your loved one.
A dedicated Bloomington wrongful death lawyer at our firm can speak with you today about how you can initiate a wrongful death lawsuit.
What is a Bloomington Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
What is a wrongful death lawsuit in Indiana? Under Indiana wrongful death law, a wrongful death is defined as a situation “when the death of one is caused by the wrongful act or omission of another.” In other words, if another party’s harmful action, or negligent lack of action, led to a person’s death, that death may be the subject of a wrongful death claim.
Wrongful death law is closely linked to personal injury law. In a personal injury lawsuit, the law recognizes the right of the injured person to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party to seek compensation. In a wrongful death lawsuit, the injured person did not survive to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. As such, the law allows another person to stand in the shoes, metaphorically, of the deceased in order to seek financial compensation for losses.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Bloomington
A personal representative of the deceased (or the deceased’s estate) must file the lawsuit, but the personal representative can seek damages for the surviving family of the deceased.
Common Damages in a Bloomington, Indiana Wrongful Death Claim
Under Indiana law, the personal representative of the estate can seek a variety of damages on behalf of the deceased’s family members. Common damages that are awarded in wrongful death lawsuits include but are not limited to the following:
- Deceased’s medical bills prior to succumbing to injuries;
- Deceased’s lost wages;
- Funeral costs;
- Burial expenses; and
- Attorney’s fees.
Timeline for Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Bloomington
Wrongful death lawsuits have a two-year statute of limitations, and the clock begins ticking on the date of the deceased’s death. If a lawsuit is not filed within two years from that date, the clock will run out, and the family will be barred from obtaining compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.
The sooner you can begin working with an experienced Indiana wrongful death lawyer, the sooner you may be able to receive the compensation you need to help with the significant financial losses connected to the death of your loved one.
Contact Our Wrongful Death Lawyers in Bloomington
If you recently lost a loved one due to another party’s careless or reckless behavior, it is critical to seek advice as soon as possible from one of our experienced and compassionate Bloomington wrongful death attorneys. Our firm can help you to seek the compensation your family needs and to hold the responsible part accountable for the irreparable harm they have caused. Contact the office of Keffer Hirschauer LLP today for more information about wrongful death claims in Indiana.