The untimely death of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful acts is a devastation no family should have to endure. As you grapple with grief, the idea of legal battles and financial considerations may seem overwhelming.
Yet pursuing a wrongful death claim can be an essential step toward justice, accountability, and securing your family’s future well-being. At Vaughan & Vaughan, our Merrillville wrongful death attorneys know the challenges you are facing.
For generations, our Merrillville personal injury lawyers have provided compassionate guidance to Indiana families suffering tragic losses. While we know no amount of money can heal your heartache, we believe you deserve fair compensation to help rebuild your life. Let us help.
What Can a Wrongful Death Lawyer Do?
A wrongful death lawyer represents families who have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. Our primary roles include:
- Investigating the circumstances to establish liability and gather evidence.
- Identifying all potential sources of compensation and damages.
- Calculating the family’s emotional, financial, and punitive damages.
- Filing wrongful death claims and lawsuits within the statute of limitation deadlines.
- Negotiating with insurance companies for full and fair settlements.
- Litigating in court if negotiations fail to achieve appropriate compensation.
- Providing compassionate guidance during this traumatic process.
Through tenacious advocacy, our attorneys help grieving families find accountability, justice, and financial resources to rebuild their lives.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Indiana?
When negligence cuts a precious life short, certain people defined by state law have the right to bring a wrongful death lawsuit to seek justice and damages. Those who may file include:
For child decedents:
The lawsuit must be filed by one or both parents or the parent with legal custody if divorced.
If both parents are deceased or parental rights are terminated, then the child’s legal guardian must file.
A “child” is defined as an unmarried person without dependents who is under 20 or 23 if enrolled in school/program or a viable fetus.
For adult decedents:
Only the personal representative (executor) of the deceased adult’s estate is permitted to file the wrongful death lawsuit, not individual family members directly. Typically, a spouse, parent, child, dependent, or other family member allowable by law will be appointed.
During a free, confidential consultation, our attorneys can evaluate the circumstances of your loss and advise if you meet the criteria to pursue a valid claim on behalf of the estate.
There is no fee
unless you win
Common Causes We Take on
Tragically, many fatal accidents and injuries are entirely preventable had reasonable care been taken. Our team has extensive experience holding negligent parties accountable in wrongful death cases involving:
- Motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent, distracted, or reckless driving
- Dangerous property conditions, premises liability hazards
- Workplace accidents, construction zone incidents
Our Merrillville wrongful death attorneys have the resources and skills to thoroughly investigate, uncover the truth, and build a strong case proving liability.
Recovering Full and Fair Compensation
While money cannot undo your anguish, a wrongful death claim seeks to compensate your family and the estate for the full range of damages, including:
- Funeral, burial, and estate administration costs
- Pre-death medical care
- Loss of future earnings, benefits, and inheritance
- Loss of love, companionship, and consortium
- Mental anguish and emotional suffering of survivors
- Punitive damages against extremely reckless or malicious conduct
Our Merrillville wrongful death lawyers know insurance companies often dispute or lowball compensatory damages. We leave no stone unturned, rigorously calculating your tangible and intangible losses based on evidence to maximize your recovery.
Contingency Fees – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
Dealing with compounded financial hardships after an unexpected death can feel like piling on immense stress during an already agonizing time. You are likely to wonder how wrongful death lawyers are paid. Our Merrillville wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis:
- You pay no upfront costs or retainer fees for our services
- We cover all case expenses until your claim resolves
- Our fees are paid only from a percentage of your final settlement/award
This eliminates any financial risk, allowing you to afford legal representation during your time of need with no money down. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
Experienced, Compassionate Advocacy You Can Rely On
The aftermath of losing a family member under preventable circumstances is one of life’s most heartbreaking tragedies. While we cannot undo this anguish, the Merrillville wrongful death lawyers at Vaughan & Vaughan are here to lift the burden of holding those at fault accountable.
For more than a century, our family has provided empathetic counsel and tenacious legal representation for grieving Indiana families seeking restorative justice. We know the road ahead seems overwhelming, but you don’t have to walk it alone.
Contact us for a private, no-obligation consultation about your rights and options. We’ll review your case in a judgment-free space and advise you of the best path forward. You’ve already endured unimaginable loss – it’s time to have a compassionate fighter in your corner.
