Accidents are traumatic, but when someone else’s negligence leads to the loss of a loved one, the impact can be overwhelming. During such a difficult time, an Indianapolis wrongful death lawyer will help you honor your loved one’s memory by investigating the accident.
Vaughan & Vaughan can provide the guidance needed to help you and your family address legal and financial matters as you move forward. You deserve the opportunity to pursue justice on a loved one’s behalf.
Over the years, we have recovered more than $25 million for clients, and we have the experience to guide you through the legal process safely. Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers can take your case to civil court, where we can advocate for your right to wrongful death damages.
In this video, Vaughan & Vaughan discusses what happens after someone tragically dies in a car accident. Following such incidents, law enforcement typically initiates investigations to determine potential criminal implications. Vaughan & Vaughan specializes in handling wrongful death cases, which are among the most emotionally challenging they encounter. In Indiana, a designated family member or estate representative can pursue a wrongful death claim to seek damages, including lost future income and compensation for the profound loss of companionship and love. While no amount of compensation can replace a loved one, their goal is to hold accountable those responsible and secure the justice and support clients rightfully deserve.
Compassionate Legal Support from Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyers in Indianapolis
Please accept our sincere condolences for a loved one’s tragic loss of life. We understand the feeling of uncertainty and sadness that follow a preventable tragedy. Our team will investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable for their negligence.
Your attorney will tell you everything you need to know about your case so you can make confident decisions. While we can handle all legal aspects of your case, you will stay informed and in control.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Indiana has specific stipulations in place dictating who can take legal action after someone dies and who cannot. If the deceased person is an adult, only the personal representative or executor of the victim’s estate can file a claim.
Usually, this role is specified in the decedent’s will. However, if there is no will or if the person appointed cannot serve, the court will name someone to act as the personal representative. Family members can initiate legal action only if they act within this role.
There is no fee
unless you win
Indiana’s Statute of Limitations
Indiana requires anyone interested in pursuing a wrongful death claim to file that claim within the state’s statute of limitations. This statute, Indiana Code §34-11-2-4, generally allows up to two years to build a claim. Your claim must reach a judge within those two years, though, if it is to be considered by the applicable bodies.
Any attempt to file a wrongful death claim outside of the aforementioned statute of limitations can result in the claim being denied out of hand. Indiana enforces this statute of limitations to keep the information regarding applicable cases relevant.
The state posits that the longer you wait to bring a case forward, the less accurate the information addressing your losses may be. That said, forcing your family to abide by a filing deadline in the wake of a loved one’s loss of life can seem cruel.
Fortunately, you’re not obligated to initiate an investigation into your loved one’s death alone. While you focus on comforting your loved ones, our wrongful death lawyers in Indianapolis can look for data detailing the negligence that led to the tragedy.
What Can an Indianapolis Wrongful Death Lawyer do for Grieving Families?
An Indianapolis wrongful death attorney represents your and your loved one’s best interest when they take on your case. This specifically means that an attorney prioritizes your right to legal action by investigating the fatal accident and strives to give you the space to grieve.
We work when you cannot so that you can win the justice your loved one deserves. Don’t go through this difficult period alone; let us help you build a financially secure future for your family.
When you call on an attorney for help, you can count on our team to:
- Outline your complaint
- Find data to defend your claims regarding liability and negligence
- Calculate your maximum compensation
- Fend off insufficient settlement offers
- Parlay with a loved one’s uncooperative insurance company
- Defend your case before a judge
- Argue for your right to financial compensation in private negotiations
All you have to do to secure the support your family deserves after a loved one passes away is contact an attorney. We can discuss what wrongful death services you need during a free case consultation.
What Information Should You Include in a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim should include the following information:
- Whose negligence resulted in your loved one’s death?
- Did that negligence violate the duty of care owed by the at-fault party to your loved one?
- What evidence of that negligence can you present to the court?
- What economic losses did you and your loved one(s) endure due to the aforementioned negligence?
- What evidence of those losses can you present to the court?
Our attorneys can ensure that you address all of this information in an applicable complaint. We can also provide you with the means to defend your position, whether your case goes to settlement negotiations or a civil trial.
What Expenses Can a Wrongful Death Claim Address?
When it comes time to calculate the losses your loved one endured prior to their passing, our attorneys make sure you don’t overlook any of your possible compensation.
The expenses you can integrate into the sum of a loved one’s damages can include:
- The cost of a loved one’s emergency medical care and long-term treatment
- Property restoration or replacement
- At-home assistance, including hospice care
- Wages lost
- Long-term loss of income
- Burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of support
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
You also have the right to include a loved one’s funeral expenses in an estimate of their case’s value. An Indianapolis wrongful death lawyer can go over your avenues to financial support with you to ensure that they are as comprehensive as possible.
In this video, Vaughan & Vaughan explains the process of filing a lawsuit after a death, emphasizing the initial steps of consultation and investigation. The firm discusses how they work closely with families to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and assess the resulting damages. This process involves preparing a wrongful death lawsuit with a designated personal representative to seek justice and compensation for the loss of their loved one.
Taking Legal Action After on Behalf of a Deceased Child
If the victim was a child, one or both parents must file the claim. When the parents are divorced, the parent who has custody can take legal action. A legal guardian must file a lawsuit when both parents are deceased or if they no longer have parental rights.
Indiana law defines a child as:
- A fetus
- An individual under the age of 20 who is unmarried and has no dependents
- An unmarried individual under 23 years old who is enrolled in a college, technical school, or similar program and has no dependent
Available Compensation
No parent should experience the tragic loss of their child. As experienced wrongful death attorneys in Indianapolis, we will help you hold the at-fault party accountable.
Types of damages you could receive include:
- Loss of love
- Loss of services
- Medical expenses
- The cost of counseling sessions for parents and siblings
Whether we file a claim or a wrongful death lawsuit, we will build a strong case on your behalf against the responsible person or entity. Our lawyers will show all your past, current, and future losses. We have a track record of successful case results, which shows that we know how to file a winning claim.
Contact Our Indianapolis Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
You and your loved ones are entitled to your grief after the unexpected passing of a loved one. In the face of unchecked negligence, you are also entitled to compensation. You can work with Indianapolis’s wrongful death attorneys to file a personal injury claim naming the responsible party liable for a fatal accident and, as such, all of its related expenses.
You have limited time to act after a fatal accident. Fortunately, our law firm can spearhead an investigation into your loved one’s passing while you and your family focus on recovering. Contact Vaughan & Vaughan to schedule a free case consultation with the attorneys who can file a wrongful death lawsuit or claim. We’re available to chat over the phone or online today.
