The death of a family member in an unexpected fatal accident caused by someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions can be hard to accept.
Lives change in an instant as parents, wives, husbands, and children try to cope with the physical pain, mental anguish, and sorrow caused by a wrongful death and subsequent worries over medical bills, funeral bills, and other financial obligations.
The legal term “wrongful death” refers to a fatality that occurs because of the negligence or misdeeds of another person, corporation or entity. Part of the “personal injury” tort family, wrongful death holds an individual, group or corporation (defendant) accountable for causing injury to another person (plaintiff). The primary goal of a personal injury tort is to provide relief (damages) to the plaintiff. In some cases the damages may be sued to deter the defendant from inflicting harm to others. The death could occur because of a car accident, medical malpractice, an on-the-job injury, nursing home abuse or neglect, propane gas explosions, a tractor trailer wreck, product defects or from any other careless conduct.
Although damages in a wrongful death case cannot bring your loved one back, a successful wrongful death claim can provide your family with some security and certainty as you face the future.
What can you claim in Virginia in a wrongful death case?
In most wrongful death cases, the estate and certain surviving family members will have a claim for damages. The estate is typically allowed to claim damages for the following:
- Sorrow, mental anguish, and solace which may include society, companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices and advice of the decedent;
- Compensation for reasonably expected loss of (i) income of the decedent and (ii) services, protection, care and assistance provided by the decedent;
- Expenses for the care, treatment and hospitalization of the decedent incident to the injury resulting in death;
- Reasonable funeral expenses; and
- Punitive damages may be recovered in Virginia for willful or wanton conduct, or such recklessness as evinces a conscious disregard for the safety of others.
If your family member or loved one has died due to the negligence of another, O’Bryan Law can help.
An Experienced Virginia Wrongful Death Attorney
We have over 30 years of experience investigating, pursuing and settling wrongful death claims.
Virginia wrongful death attorney Wayne O’Bryan and O’Bryan Law have extensive experience working with the reputable experts necessary to secure a fair and reasonable wrongful death settlement. We also have the experience and skills necessary to present your wrongful death case in court before a jury and judge if the insurance company refuses to settle, or offers an inadequate settlement. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys and staff members will work hard to ensure the insurance company or the jury understands the depth of your loss.
Wrongful death cases are always emotional, which is why you should not make any major decisions while you are grieving. Consult an experienced Virginia wrongful death lawyer before you enter into any settlement, sign any release or accept any money in exchange for releasing an individual, corporation or insurance company from liability.
Contact us now for a FREE conversation about your wrongful death case. There is no obligation to hire a lawyer. We are usually retained on a contingency fee basis. There is no fee until our fatal accident attorneys successfully recover fair compensation for you.
More Wrongful Death and Fatal Accident Resources
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in Virginia?
- What can I do if my loved one was killed in an accident or wreck that was not their fault?
- What is the difference between wrongful death and medical malpractice?
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- Wrongful Death and Prescription Drugs: Don’t be a Victim
- Virginia Supreme Court rules in Wrongful Death case
- Virginia Wrongful Death Statute from the Code of Virginia
- The Virginia Wrongful Death Statute from the Code of Virginia in Layman’s Terms, part 1
- The Virginia Wrongful Death Statute from the Code of Virginia in Layman’s Terms, part 2
- The Virginia Wrongful Death Statute from the Code of Virginia in Layman’s Terms, part 3