Did someone recently pass away due to an accident? If so, you may be wondering if you are able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf because of how it impacted you. Here is when you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and seek compensation for the untimely passing of a loved one.
Immediate Family
It is very common for the immediate family to come together as a whole to file for a wrongful death lawsuit. This is because this group of people will see the most impact wrong the person's wrongful death. This could include a family that has recently lost the mother or father, or parents who have lost a child. There reasons for a wrongful death lawsuit should be clear, since there is a close relationship with the deceased and a big impact on everyone's lives.
Close Relatives
Many people do not realize that they have a claim in a wrongful death lawsuit if they are not in the immediate family, but a close relative. The relative does not necessarily need to be close in terms of their family tree, but close to the deceased where their death has made an impact on their life. There may be a grandparent that is particularly involved in a grandchild's life, or cousins that have a close bond and practically treat each other as siblings. If you had a close relationship and the immediate family has made a claim, you may need the help of a lawyer to be included in a settlement.
Unmarried Significant Others
The relationship doesn't necessarily have to be legal through marriage or by blood to be counted as a wrongful death lawsuit. It is possible for someone to have the right to wrongful death claims as the unmarried significant other of the deceased. This situation becomes a bit tricky when others in the previously mentioned classes are making a wrongful death claim themselves.
For example, if the deceased's parents are still alive, they may try to make a wrongful death claim on their behalf, which could leave a unmarried significant other in a situation where they are not included unless they use the help of a lawyer. Your lawyer may have to argue that you deserve to be included because you were financially dependent on your loved one, and their untimely death has put you in a financial situation that you are having trouble recovering from.
If someone you know passed away from an accident, look into wrongful death attorney services in your area.
Share28 May 2020
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