The loss is a part of life and it is extremely painful when loved ones are taken away from us. This can be even more painful when the loss is premature, unexpected, or could have been avoided.
Wrongful deaths happen more often than we would like to believe. Examples of wrongful deaths include car accidents and malpractice. Although nothing can be done to get a loved one back, you can seek justice by consulting a Lake Wylie, South Carolina wrongful death lawyer.
The Elrod Pope Law Firm has several experienced Lake Wylie wrongful death lawyers on hand that can help you and your family get the compensation you deserve.
What is Wrongful Death in Lake Wylie?
Wrongful death can result from any of the following situations:
Traffic Accidents: These can include car, truck, or motorcycle accidents. They can occur if a driver is disobeying the law, if a vehicle malfunctions, or due to faulty road work.
Medical Malpractice: These can occur if a medical professional is not properly trained or skilled enough to follow proper procedures. Examples of malpractice can include birth injuries, improper diagnosis, pharmaceutical errors, surgical errors and more.
Defective Products: Most products sold are tested to ensure they are safe for the public. However, when proper measures haven’t been taken, products can be deadly. This can often be the case when you are dealing with food, pharmaceuticals, childcare products and toys, and defective vehicles.
Workplace Accidents: According to OSHA, employers must take certain steps to ensure their employees are safe. However, accidents still happen in the form of manufacturing accidents, transportation injury accidents, repetitive motion or strain and more.
Who is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Claim?
If a wrongful death occurs, the first step is finding out who can file the wrongful death claim. In South Carolina, the only one eligible to file a wrongful death claim is someone who has been named the state administrator or executor of the descendant’s estate. This person may have been named in the deceased’s estate plan.
If there is no executor or administrator, or if the person doesn’t want to take the role, the court can appoint someone to take on this responsibility.
Even though an immediate relative might not be the person making the claim, they can still recover compensation owed from a wrongful death. Those owed compensation include spouses, children, parent or heirs at law (if there are no others available).
Building a Case for Your Wrongful Death
Wrongful death cases are extremely complicated. It can be difficult to determine who is at fault. That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced Lake Wylie wrongful death lawyer on your side.
An experienced Lake Wylie Wrongful Death lawyer will help you collect evidence for your case. This can be tricky, especially if there were no eyewitnesses. However, things like a death certificate will be important as it will indicate the cause of death. Details and information about the circumstances surrounding the death and copies of records pertaining to the death will be crucial as well.
Compensation That May Be Due in the Case of a Wrongful Death
There are various types of compensation a family may be owed in the event that a loved one was lost due to wrongful death. These include the following:
- Medical expenses for the deceased’s injuries prior to death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of income
- Loss of care and affection
- Mental anguish for surviving family members
The types of compensation you might be owed can vary and it can be difficult to keep track of. An experienced Lake Wylie wrongful death lawyer will see to it that you get the compensation you are owed.
Finding the Right Lake Wylie Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you are in the Lake Wylie, South Carolina area and are suffering from the wrongful death of a loved one, it is important to find legal aid as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help, the easier it will be to collect evidence. You should also be aware that there is a three-year statute of limitations on filing a wrongful death claim so time is of the essence.
The Elrod Pope Law Firm has several experienced attorneys available to help you. Their dozens of years in the business have allowed them to gain the skill and perspective necessary to understand what you are going through and help you win your case. They will see to it that all the necessary evidence is in place, the at-fault parties are targeted and that you get the compensation you deserve.
Losing a loved one due to wrongful death is never easy. Find a trustworthy Lake Wylie wrongful death lawyer to take some of the burdens off your shoulders. They will see to it that justice is served. Contact us today!