Norfolk Wrongful Death Lawyer

Norfolk Wrongful Death Attorney

Losing a family member unexpectedly is never easy, but it is especially hard when you know their death was the result of another party’s negligence or illegal activity. If you have recently lost a loved one due to another party’s fault, you need to consult a Norfolk wrongful death lawyer as quickly as possible. They can help you determine your optimal path to holding them accountable and helping your family recover compensation for this tragic loss.

Representing Wrongful Death Claims in Norfolk, VA

A Norfolk personal injury lawyer is the ideal resource to consult whenever you have suffered a loss due to another party’s actions. A personal injury suit can help an injured victim prove liability for the harm they have suffered, hold the at-fault party accountable, and recover compensation for the victim’s losses. A wrongful death suit is a special form of personal injury claim filed by the family of the victim of a fatal personal injury.

Whitlock Law, LLC, can provide compassionate legal representation for your wrongful death case in Norfolk, VA. Our firm has extensive professional experience handling difficult personal injury cases, and we know the challenges you are likely to face in a wrongful death suit. With our assistance you can face these proceedings with greater confidence and have a better chance of recovering compensation for your family’s damages.

Money from a successful wrongful death suit cannot replace your lost loved one, but it can provide a sense of closure and assist your family in adjusting to your new circumstances. You have a limited time in which to file a wrongful death suit after a family member’s death in the state, and there are special rules that apply to this type of case in terms of the damages available and eligibility to file these claims. With our help, you can build a compelling case.

Proving Liability for Wrongful Death in Norfolk

Before you and your family can receive any compensation for the death of your loved one, you must first prove liability for the victim’s death. Wrongful death cases can arise out of many types of situations in Norfolk. Some of the most commonly cited causes of wrongful deaths in the area include motor vehicle accidents, work-related accidents, criminal acts of violence, and slip-and-fall accidents resulting in fatal injuries.

Your Norfolk wrongful death lawyer can assist you in gathering the evidence you will need to accurately identify the party or parties responsible for causing your loved one’s death. You must identify the at-fault party, prove that they were negligent or broke the law in a manner resulting in the death, and then show the full extent of your family’s damages. It is also necessary to link your claimed damages directly to the defendant’s actions.

A Norfolk wrongful death lawyer can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove liability for your loved one’s death. For example, if they were killed in a fatal car accident, traffic camera footage and witness testimony could be essential for proving fault. It would be very difficult to gather this evidence on your own, and having the right attorney handle your case will mean a much easier time collecting any evidence you may need to firmly establish liability.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Suit

Most personal injury claims intend to recover compensation for the victim’s damages, such as their medical expenses, lost wages, and their pain and suffering. While a wrongful death suit is a type of personal injury claim, this type of personal injury claim aims to compensate the family of the victim. Your Norfolk wrongful death lawyer can help you understand the various economic and non-economic damages you and your family are eligible to recover from the defendant.

Economic damages include direct and indirect financial losses the defendant caused with their actions, such as losses incurred by the deceased’s estate, lost value of childcare and household services the deceased provided to their family, and the income they would have otherwise been able to earn for their family had they survived. It is also possible to claim compensation for the victim’s final medical expenses as well as reasonable funeral and burial costs.

Non-economic damages can be more challenging to calculate. These include the pain and suffering the family experienced because of the death, the surviving spouse’s loss of affection and consortium, and the surviving children’s loss of parental guidance and companionship. State law does not cap or limit non-economic damages in wrongful death cases, so this could form a large portion of your total case award if you are successful with the case.

Additionally, if the defendant caused the death by breaking the law or through egregious negligence, punitive damages could come into play. These damages are awarded at the court’s discretion, separate from the damages claimed by the plaintiff, and the amount the defendant will be required to pay generally depends on their overall financial status and the severity of their actions.

Resolving Your Wrongful Death Claim in Norfolk

Whitlock Law, LLC, can work closely with you and your family to not only build a compelling and effective wrongful death suit but also help you resolve the case as swiftly as possible. Many wrongful death cases are settled outside of court, but this requires the defendant to accept liability for the death and agree to negotiate. If a settlement cannot be reached, the case will need to be resolved through litigation.

Ultimately, every wrongful death case is unique, and every family will face different challenges when it comes to proving liability for a loved one’s death and holding the appropriate party accountable. Whitlock Law, LLC, has successfully represented many Norfolk area families, and we are ready to apply this experience to your case. We will do everything we can to resolve your case efficiently and recover as much compensation as possible.

Norfolk Wrongful Death Law FAQs

Q: Who Is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Suit in Norfolk, VA?

A: Only certain parties are eligible to file a wrongful death suit in Norfolk, as state law restricts eligibility to the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. If the deceased named a specific representative or executor, this person would act as a plaintiff in the wrongful death suit. If the deceased did not name a personal representative and/or have an estate plan, the court will likely appoint one of the surviving beneficiaries to act as the plaintiff.

Q: How Much Is a Wrongful Death Suit Worth in Norfolk, VA?

A: The potential value of a wrongful death suit in Norfolk depends on multiple factors, and the surviving beneficiaries will be eligible to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages. For example, your family could receive compensation for damages to the deceased’s estate, funeral and burial expenses, and compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the death. Your attorney can help you assess the full value of your claimable damages.

Q: How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

A: In Virginia, you have two years from the date of a family member’s death in which to file a wrongful death claim. This statute of limitations applies to most personal injury claims in the state, and while it may seem like a generous amount of time in which to file your case, the reality is that it can take quite a while to collect the foundational materials necessary to file your claim with the court, so it is vital to start the claim filing process as quickly as possible.

Q: Will a Defendant Go to Jail for Causing a Wrongful Death?

A: Yes, a defendant could go to jail for causing a wrongful death. However, a wrongful death suit is a civil matter that seeks compensation for damages. If the defendant’s behavior that resulted in the death was illegal, they will face a separate criminal case filed by the state. The purpose of a wrongful death suit is to compensate the family of the victim, whereas the purpose of a criminal case would be to punish the defendant for breaking the law.

Q: What Will It Cost to Hire a Norfolk Wrongful Death Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Norfolk wrongful death lawyer will only be a percentage of your final settlement or verdict if you choose Whitlock Law, LLC, to represent you. Our firm accepts personal injury cases on contingency, so there are no upfront or ongoing attorneys’ fees. When we recover compensation for our client, we take a percentage of the total recovered on their behalf, but only if and when we win their case.

The team at Whitlock Law, LLC, can provide the support and reassurance you and your family need after losing a loved one to another party’s negligence or illegal misconduct. This type of case is inherently challenging in many ways, and you have a limited time to file, so it’s vital to connect with an attorney you can trust as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Norfolk wrongful death lawyer.