Rhea County Wrongful Death Lawyer

Coping with the death of a loved one is one of the hardest things anyone can experience. Not only do surviving family members have to deal with the emotional pain of such loss, but often also suffer financial burdens. Families have to pay funeral costs, medical bills, and other end-of-life costs. Spouses, minor children, and other dependents suffer long-term financial harm because of the loss of household income.

Surviving families can sue for compensation related to these financial burdens when someone’s negligent or criminal actions caused their loved one’s death. Families may also be entitled to restitution for their pain and suffering. If you believe your loved one’s death was due to someone’s negligent or illegal actions, call a Rhea wrongful death lawyer. Your attorney will closely examine the facts of your case, and uncover the cause of death.

Skilled injury lawyers can work hard to hold the responsible party accountable for the pain they have caused. To learn more about filing a wrongful death claim, contact a Rhea lawyer today.

Defining Wrongful Death in Rhea County

Tennessee Code defines wrongful death as one that results from “injuries received from another, or… is caused by the wrongful act, omission, or killing by another.”

In other words, when someone’s death is caused by another’s misconduct, the death is considered wrongful and gives rise to a wrongful death claim. Surviving family members can sue the person or entity responsible for their loved one’s death in a wrongful death lawsuit.

In Rhea, surviving families often sue for compensation related to end-of-life medical care, funeral expenses, and their loved one’s lost future earnings. Families can also sue for damages related to their pain and suffering. Rhea wrongful death lawyers can help grieving families file these claims in court.

Auto Accidents and Wrongful Death

Most commonly, wrongful deaths occur as the result of an accident, such as an auto accident or a slip and fall. In fact, auto accidents are a leading cause of unintentional deaths across Tennessee and throughout the country.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security reported 457 traffic-related fatalities across the state in 2016.

Not every traffic fatality qualifies as a wrongful death, though many do. When a driver fails to take reasonable action to avoid a crash, and that failure causes injury to another, the responsible driver is negligent. When a negligent driver causes a crash, and someone dies in the crash, that death is a wrongful one.

Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death

Unfortunately, wrongful deaths can also happen because of medical malpractice. Patients and their families should be able to trust healthcare providers with their lives.

When a healthcare provider’s malpractice leads to a patient’s death, the patient’s family can sue the provider, or the facility they work for, in a wrongful death claim. The same is true for families who have lost a loved one due to nursing home abuse.

A Rhea County wrongful death lawyer will not simply rely on a healthcare provider’s account of the facts. Instead, a family’s attorney will investigate with the help of independent medical experts, and advocate for the family every step of the way.

Contact a Rhea Wrongful Death Attorney

Wrongful death cases are time-sensitive and complex. Instead of dealing with your claim alone, call a Rhea wrongful death lawyer for help. A compassionate injury lawyer will fight for your family in court while you cope with the tragic loss of your loved one.