You can get guidance and support from a compassionate Lafayette wrongful death lawyer after the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. Our team at Vaughan & Vaughan can assist you with all legal matters, drawing on over 110 years of experience.
We understand the difficulties you face during this challenging time. A Lafayette personal injury lawyer can help you recover the compensation you need after the death of a loved one. Learn more about your options through a free case evaluation by giving us a call or completing the online contact form on this site today.
How a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Lafayette Can Help You
We can take several steps to help you recover the compensation you need and deserve. Your attorney will likely begin by launching an independent investigation into the death of your loved one. The purpose of this investigation will be to both prove fault and collect evidence that helps support your compensation claim.
Once their investigation is complete, your attorney will evaluate your losses and determine the damages you can claim. After calculating how much your wrongful death claim is worth, they will likely either file a lawsuit against the liable party with the court or submit an insurance claim to the at-fault party’s insurance company.
If you choose to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, the next step will be for your lawyer to begin the pretrial process. After completing the pretrial process, your attorney will argue your case in the courtroom if necessary. Your lawyer will also communicate with opposing counsel to potentially negotiate a fair settlement deal.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Damages You May Recover After a Wrongful Death
After losing a loved one due to negligence or an intentional act, you may qualify to claim a wide variety of damages through a wrongful death claim. However, figuring out which damages apply to your case can be tricky.
When you hire an experienced wrongful death lawyer in Lafayette, they can help you determine what damages you are eligible to pursue so that you can recover full compensation. All damages fall into three main categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages account for any losses you suffered that directly impacted your financial standing. Due to the nature of these losses, they are the most easily quantifiable of the damages you can recover. Some of the most often claimed economic damages in a wrongful death case include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Lost income
- Lost future earnings of the deceased
- Funeral costs and burial expenses
We can support you through the legal process to secure funds to cover these losses.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include all other losses your family sustains. Assigning a monetary value to these diverse losses is incredibly challenging. Some of the most often claimed economic damages in a wrongful death case include:
- Decreased quality of life
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
An experienced attorney can help your family seek financial compensation for the non-economic consequences of a fatal accident.
Punitive Damages
While economic and non-economic damages focus on the victims and their losses, punitive damages focus on the at-fault party and their actions. Punitive damages represent a tool for punishing the liable party and discouraging similar behavior in the future.
A judge will only award punitive damages in extreme cases. To qualify for punitive damages, the party responsible for the death of your loved one must have either acted with criminal negligence or have intended to kill or otherwise cause harm.
Your personal injury lawyer can help you learn more about all forms of compensation your family qualifies to receive.
There is no fee
unless you win
Who Needs to Cover Your Family’s Losses?
The party that caused the loss of your loved one may need to provide fair compensation to your family. Therefore, you will not be able to begin the process of recovering compensation for the death of your loved one until you first identify who is responsible.
Unfortunately, proving liability is often much more easily said than done. There are likely several parties that could potentially hold a level of fault for your loved one’s death, and sorting through them all can be challenging.
The good news is that you don’t have to attempt to prove fault alone. An experienced wrongful death attorney in Lafayette will know what to look for when determining fault and can significantly simplify the process.
File Your Lafayette Wrongful Death Claim Before the Deadline Passes
Generally speaking, Indiana gives the loved ones of wrongful death victims two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you do not submit the required paperwork before the statute of limitations expires, you will likely be unable to pursue compensation from the liable party.
Certain exceptions could apply to your case, altering the time you have to submit your lawsuit. The details of your case could allow you to file a lawsuit against the responsible party long after the standard deadline has passed.
On the other hand, an exception could have the opposite effect. A typical example is when the party responsible for the death of your loved one is a government entity. In this case, you will likely only have months to submit your lawsuit rather than years. Hiring a Lafayette wrongful death lawyer shortly after the loss of your loved one is the best way to meet all deadlines.
Why Select Us to Handle Your Wrongful Death Claim?
Our team at Vaughan & Vaughan has the resources, training, and experience to provide you with compassionate assistance in this difficult time. We know how to deal with insurance companies and the at-fault party to give you more time to focus on your family.
Losing a loved one is always difficult. However, this loss can be incredibly challenging when sudden and unexpected. In addition to the emotional toll that comes from the death of a loved one, there are often many financial challenges. While money may not be the first thing on your mind, recovering compensation can be essential for you moving forward, and we can help.
We have a reputation for successfully guiding clients through the legal process. You can go over our case results to see examples of our work. We also provide risk-free initial consultations so you can discuss your options with our team at no cost.
Types of Wrongful Death Claims We Handle
We use our extensive experience to help with a wide range of fatal accidents. For example, you can contact us for help after a deadly:
- Truck accident
- Car accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Bus accident
- Construction accident
We’ll provide the legal guidance you need after the loss of a loved one.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Team in Lafayette
If you are attempting to recover compensation after the death of a loved one, you need to make sure you have legal representation. It is essential to choose an injury attorney with a history of representing clients in cases similar to yours and a track record of securing favorable results.
Our wrongful death attorneys in Lafayette at Vaughan & Vaughan are ready to help. Additionally, we handle claims on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll only pay legal fees after we resolve your claim.
You can learn more about us and then call or use our online contact form for professional help.
