After the passing of a loved one, searching for a wrongful death attorney can feel slimy. Trust us: It's necessary.
If you've had a family member or partner die because of another's negligence, you can file a wrongful death suit on his or her behalf. Many people consider a quickly-shrinking estate that needs to be divvied up among the heirs and think, "Man, Jerry wouldn't want us to hire a lawyer and waste all of his hard-earned money. We can figure this out ourselves. We'll just go online and research it!"
There's only so much Googling that one can do in a situation like this.
Wrongful Death Attorney in Gainesville
Enjuris wrongful death attorney discusses your financial option.
Additionally (presumably), all of you are grieving the loss of your loved one. Will you be thinking clearly enough to research all of the relevant statutory laws? What if there are federal laws, too? Are those double laws? Will you know all of the filing dates and be able to meet every discovery request? Each state has different conditions for wrongful death cases, and you will likely also be dealing with probate claims as well so you can disburse the decedent's estate to all the legal heirs.
These are only a few considerations to keep in mind. If any of those legal filing deadlines is missed, you might lose the right to file the case entirely and the negligence case will disappear.
It's much easier to hand it over to an attorney and simply grieve. The money in attorney's fees will be well spent because you will know that your loved one has been properly taken care of.
Find the right wrongful death attorney for your case
Key Aspects to Look for in a Wrongful Death Attorney
That being said, here are some good things to look for in a wrongful death lawyer.
- How much experience does s/he have in the specific area of your case? For instance, if your relative died in a construction accident, you'll want someone who's well-versed in construction law.
- How much time does s/he have to devote to your case? If this lawyer is very popular and has several high-profile cases, you might want to find someone else who can really focus on you.
- What other members of his/her firm will be working on your case? If an associate is going to do the entire thing, that's fine -- but make sure you're getting billed at the lower rate.
- What do other attorneys think of this lawyer? High opinion? Low opinion? Neutral?
- What do online reviews say?
- Are there any disciplinary actions against this attorney? Make sure to check the relevant state bar association website.
If you're unable to pick someone, you could also do something as simple as ask a friend or acquaintance who's had to deal with this unfortunate situation and use the same attorney they did. However, when suing for negligence, you'll want to suit up and find the best person you can.
Have you had to work with a wrongful death attorney? If you feel you can, please share your story with us in the comments.
Sariah says
In this crime-induced world, we cannot really tell when we will fall victim of a wrongful death. Thankfully, this article provides enough information as to how hiring a wrongful death attorney will help in filing a case. Thanks for this!
Lisa Banks says
Hi Sariah, thanks for stopping by!
Jaque Christo says
Thank you for the post on what to look for in a wrongful death attorney. I like the idea to find a lawyer who is well experienced in cases pertaining to yours. Like you mentioned, If your relative died in a construction accident you want a lawyer well versed in construction law. That way the lawyer can better fight for you.
Latoya Anderson says
I like that you suggested choosing a wrongful death attorney that can devote time on your case to make sure that they will be able to focus on helping you. My best friend is looking for a wrongful death attorney for her brother. She wants to make sure that the wrongful death attorney that she will hire will prioritize on helping her because she wants her case to progress. I will make sure to share your blog with her so she can consider all your tips. Thanks!
Lisa Banks says
Hi Latoya, thanks so much for sharing our blog with your best friend. I hope it is helpful for her!
Pamela Brown says
My best friend is looking to hire a wrongful death lawyer for her mother. It’s important for her to make sure that the wrongful death lawyer will prioritize the case that she will file to ensure a positive outcome. This is why I do agree with what you said about how you should consider choosing a wrongful death lawyer that has all the time to devote to your case and can focus on you. Thanks for sharing all your tips.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Pamela, thanks for the note. I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s family’s need for a wrongful death lawyer. I hope our directory can be of help. All the best.
Taylor Bishop says
I just wanted to thank you for clarifying what to look for when hiring a wrongful death attorney. I’m glad you said that you should learn what kind of experience they have with a specific area in a case, like someone dying in a construction accident. I wonder if you could also search for this focus to help narrow down and speed up your search.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Taylor, thanks for reaching out to us. Yes, I expect any direct experience with the type of accident will be helpful in the attorney you choose. Let us know how it goes in your search and your case.
Ellen Hughes says
You got my attention when you talked about how you should consider choosing a wrongful death lawyer that has the time to devote your case. A close friend of mine is interested in hiring a wrongful death lawyer. He mentioned that his priority is to resolve the wrongful death case that he’s looking to file as soon as possible so they can get the result that they’re aiming. Thanks for sharing this.
Stacy Brues says
Im needing help my child called 911 they returned the call & my childs boyfriend answered …….lied & no police showed up she was robbed & shot & killed as a result of her ignored call for help
Lance Buchanan says
We’re sorry to hear this happened to you and your daughter, Stacey. Unfortunately, this type of case would not fall under wrongful death as that is only in cases involving negligence. It sounds like you’ll need to talk to police so they can investigate the crime and, if proven, file charges against your daughter’s boyfriend.
Maria Durso says
Looking for Lawyer wrongful death
Ian Pisarcik says
Maria,
You’re in luck! Take a look at our free online lawyer directory. Just click on your state and contact one of the attorneys that appears. They will be able to help you with a wrongful death claim.
benjaminwatson says
Thanks for sharing.
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Benjamin. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment. We hope this was useful to you. Please visit Enjuris.com for any of your legal questions. We’re happy to help!
Mark says
I’m trying to find a wrongful death lawyer. My father was flown by helicopter from one hospital to another. By the time I arrived to meet them he was dead. He had the flu, a respiratory infection and possible heart attack. They gave him blood thinners at hospital 1 then I heard the helicopter EMT ask if he had allergies to fentanyl. They commenced with a cath and anesthesia and he died on the table at hospital 2. This should NOT have happened. No lawyer cares because he was 75. Who does care? Help!
Melissa Gold says
Hello, Mark. I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know what would be the appropriate care for your father in that situation. It sounds like what you’re asking could be along the lines of medical malpractice. Please feel free to use the Enjuris Personal Injury Law Firm Directory to find a medical malpractice lawyer near you. A medical malpractice personal injury lawyer can use medical experts to determine what the standard of care should be under the circumstances and whether your father was properly cared for based on his condition. Again, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through in this difficult time.
Angelia Arnold says
So my mother passed away on valentines day of this year .and she was doing really good until they did two more surgeries on her.they screwed up on her .an now shes dead .i need a attorney that will help us
Ian Pisarcik says
Angelia,
I’m so sorry this happened to you. Click on your state in our online directory to find an attorney who can help. Remember, most attorneys offer free initial consultations. A free initial consultation will give you an opportunity to get some basic information and determine if the attorney you’re meeting with is right for you. Here are some things you can do to prepare for your initial meeting so that it goes more smoothly: http://www.enjuris.com/personal-injury-law/preparing-first-meeting/
Megan Adler says
One of my friends, unfortunately, lost a loved one and is looking to hire an attorney that can represent wrongful death cases. I appreciate that you recommend choosing a person that not only will be experienced but that will have enough time to be devoted to their case. I will let him know this useful information so that he knows what needs to be considered to hire the right lawyer.
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Megan. I’m so sorry for your friend’s loss. I hope that they will be able to reach resolution quickly. Please let them know that they’re welcome to use the free Enjuris attorney directory to find a lawyer in their state who is able to help. Be well.
Ian Pisarcik says
Thank you for the comment. I hope your friend finds the right attorney for him. Here are some additional resources that might help his search:
Free lawyer directory
How to find an attorney
Cal-Injuries says
Great information, Thanks for sharing this informative blog with us. Keep sharing!!
Ian Pisarcik says
I’m glad we could help!
Levi Armstrong says
I like that you said that it’s wise to hire a wrongful death attorney that is experienced with the specific details of your case. My mom died a few days ago because of medical negligence. I plan to file a case against her doctor, so I’ll take note of your tips to find the right lawyer to hire. Thanks.
C says
I’m under the impression that mom can file some type of wrongful death in a civil court. too?
Eve Mitchell says
I appreciated what you said about looking at the online reviews. My aunt is looking for one for her son who was in an accident. We are all praying she can find a good one for him.