Hickory Wrongful Death Lawyer

Hickory Wrongful Death Attorney

The death of someone you love is something no one wants to think about. However, when the unthinkable happens, it is wise to be aware of your legal rights. If you lost a family member due to the negligence or recklessness of another individual or entity, you may be eligible to recover certain forms of compensation in order to help you recover and adjust to life after loss. A Hickory wrongful death lawyer can prove to be essential in your claim.

At Roberts Law Firm, P.A., we understand that no amount of money can bring your loved one back to you. It can, however, allow you the necessary time to grieve and recover from the loss without having to worry about any financial burden the death might have caused. Our attorneys understand the profound impact grief can have on a family and hope to offer our services so that we can handle the overwhelming legalities and you can focus on caring for one another.

If your family has lost someone you love due to the actions of another, it’s time to reach out to Roberts Law Firm, P.A. Our wrongful death attorneys can work to help you better understand your rights and how to go about legally filing a claim for compensation. Let us come alongside you during this difficult time and pursue both justice and the financial means necessary to recover and recuperate after suffering the loss of someone you love.

Common Reasons for Wrongful Death in Hickory, North Carolina

Wrongful death cases can arise in almost any accident or personal injury situation. Common causes for wrongful death claims in Hickory, North Carolina, include the following:

• Car accidents. These accidents can occur when a negligent or reckless driver collides with another vehicle and causes the victim to suffer fatal injuries. Common reasons for fatal car crashes are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, distracted driving, and reckless driving. If you and your family have lost someone you love in a car crash caused by a negligent or reckless driver, a wrongful death claim is possible.
• Truck accidents. Due to their sheer size and weight, commercial trucks carry a higher risk of causing fatal injuries when involved in an accident. Common causes for commercial truck accidents include distracted driving, reckless driving, driving while influenced by alcohol or drugs, improperly loaded cargo, fatigued drivers, and employers who engage in reckless or negligent behavior themselves.
• Motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists often have less protection than other drivers on the roadways due to the nature of their vehicles. Because of this, riders can face a substantial threat of fatal injury in the event of a crash. If you lost someone you love due to a motorcycle accident in North Carolina, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim when the accident wasn’t their fault.
• Pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians can be killed by vehicles that fail to yield or stop at crosswalks or intersections or when motorists drive their vehicles through a pedestrian area at an unsafe or reckless speed. Drivers should be held accountable for their negligent or reckless actions that resulted in the death of a loved one. Our attorneys can ensure you receive justice and compensation through a wrongful death claim.
• Slip and fall accidents. Such accidents can happen when a person enters the property owned by another and suffers injury by slipping and falling on wet or slick surfaces, cracked pavement, in places with inadequate lighting, missing or inadequate handrails or guardrails, or in places with exposed wiring. If you lost your loved one in a slip-and-fall accident, our attorneys can help ensure you receive compensation.
• Workplace accidents. Some workplaces may be inherently dangerous, more than others, but all job sites carry the risk of injury and potential death. When your loved one is killed on the job in Hickory, North Carolina, you may be entitled to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim.
• Medical malpractice cases. When your loved one places their trust in the hands of their doctors, nurses, and overall hospital system and suffers death due to the negligent or reckless actions or inaction of these medical professionals, you have the right to file a wrongful death claim in order to seek compensation. Common cases of medical malpractice can include surgical errors, medication or anesthesia errors, or misdiagnosis.
• Dog bite accidents. When a dangerous dog bites your loved one, and that bite wound results in infection, this infection can cause death if not properly treated. You and your loved ones have the legal right to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim against the dangerous dog’s owner.
• Defective product accidents. Designers, manufacturers, and retailers of certain products have an obligation to ensure that they are safe for consumers. When individuals purchase these products and are killed due to malfunctions or defects, you and your family have the right to file a wrongful death claim against these entities and hold them accountable for the loss you have suffered.

If you lost your loved one in any of these kinds of personal injury accidents, the team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A., can help.

How Roberts Law Firm, P.A., Can Help

For over 40 years, the team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A., has been assisting clients who have lost family members due to personal injury accidents such as car collisions or medical malpractice cases. We have dedicated our careers to ensuring our clients receive both the compensation and justice they deserve after suffering such terrible losses. We hope to use our experience and resources to help you and your loved ones in a wrongful death claim.

When you work with the team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A., we can assist you with your wrongful death claim by taking the following actions:

• We can investigate the cause of your loved one’s death and help determine the liable party.
• We can review the details of their death and help determine the overall value of your wrongful death claim.
• We can identify which members of your family are entitled to receive compensation in a wrongful death claim.
• We can uncover evidence to be used in support of your wrongful death claim.
• We can help file the necessary paperwork within the strict deadlines as dictated by the state of North Carolina. This deadline is known as a statute of limitations and in North Carolina, it currently stands at two years following the death.
• We can enter into negotiations with the at-fault party, their insurance company, and their legal teams to reach a fair settlement amount.
• If negotiations are not possible and the involved parties refuse to cooperate, we can bring your wrongful death claim to court and argue your case before a judge and jury in order to receive maximum compensation.

The following types of evidence can be useful in a wrongful death claim, and it is helpful to provide our attorneys with these documents as quickly as possible:

• The death certificate for your loved one.
• Any pertinent medical bills, reports, or visit summaries prior to your loved one’s death.
• Police and autopsy reports of your loved one’s death.
• Pay stubs and tax returns, which can help us calculate any wages lost to the death.
• Any forms of physical evidence, such as photographs of the accident or statements made by eyewitnesses.

Who Is Allowed to File a Claim for Wrongful Death in NC?

In the state, the administrator or executor of the deceased person’s estate can file a claim for wrongful death. In some cases, it may be a surviving spouse, a parent, or an adult child. In this claim, compensation can be sought on behalf of the estate and the legal heirs or beneficiaries of that estate, who are typically the surviving spouse and children.

If the deceased individual wrote and validated a will before their death, the individual named as the executor of the estate within the will can bring forward the wrongful death claim. In cases where the deceased did not leave behind a valid will, the courts have the ability to appoint a personal representative or administrator who can carry the duty of bringing forward the wrongful death claim for compensation.

Compensation Available in Wrongful Death Claims

There are several forms of compensation available in wrongful death claims, including funeral or burial costs; medical costs, including hospitalization or hospice expenses; physical pain and emotional suffering the deceased individual dealt with before their death; income or employment benefits the deceased would have earned; and possible punitive damages, awarded in rare cases to punish the liable party for particularly egregious or grossly negligent acts.

Have You Lost Someone You Love? Contact Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Today!

If you lost someone you love in Hickory, North Carolina, due to the negligent or reckless actions of another individual or entity, the team at Roberts Law Firm, P.A., can assist you and your family in recovering by seeking financial compensation for your loss. Contact our offices today to learn more information and to schedule an initial consultation.