An attorney cannot bring back a loved one, but they can ease the financial pain a family will suffer when they lose a loved one. It’s hard to accomplish the feeling of justice when a loved one is taken unexpectedly due to a negligent act of another individual. With the help of a wrongful death attorney in Port Orchard, the family will receive compensation for losing their loved one as justice for the incident.
A wrongful death lawsuit is like a personal injury claim except the money received will be disbursed to family members. A case qualifies under this law if the death of the person was caused by the neglect, willful act, or fault of another person.
Civil Versus Criminal
A civil wrongful death claim differs from a criminal claim. Survivors of the person who is deceased can bring a wrongful death claim. A criminal case is filed by the state. Liability in a wrongful death case is for money and does not include jail time or fines like a criminal case.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
The personal representative of a deceased individual can file a claim. A spouse or registered domestic partner can also file a claim for their deceased loved one. A child, children or stepchildren can file a claim against the negligent party for their actions.
Death of a Children Under Eighteen Years of Age
If a child is under the age of eighteen, a parent can file on behalf of the loss suffered by their child if the deceased person regularly contributed to the support of the child. If the parents were never married or didn’t live together, they must serve the other parent a copy of the petition for the wrongful death claim. These types of cases can be very confusing, and a wrongful death attorney in Port Orchard can help to win the case.
If you lost a loved one because of a defective product or a negligent act of another individual, including medical malpractice, don’t wait to speak to an attorney for a free consultation. Schedule an appointment today.
