Wilmington Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful Death Attorney in Wilmington, NC

It is difficult to think about money after losing a loved one to wrongful death, but many times, the surviving family members cannot afford medical bills and funeral expenses, especially if they suffer a loss of income. When you are overwhelmed with emotion, thinking about the future is nearly impossible. With our help, however, you can determine how much compensation your family will need to move forward.

At Christina Rivenbark & Associates, we provide compassionate representation to families who have lost loved ones to wrongful death. Our personal injury attorneys understand that grief makes it hard to focus on legal and financial details. That is why we work diligently to help you get what you need from the negligent party. With sufficient compensation, you can pay the expenses caused by the death as well as your monthly bills.

Why Should I Hire A Wrongful Death Lawyer In Wilmington, NC?

You might think that if another party is clearly responsible for the recent death of your loved one that you can handle holding them accountable on your own. The reality is that any wrongful death claim can pose very challenging legal questions the average person may not know how to address on their own. If you try to handle your wrongful death case without an attorney, you will need to contend with your grief and your family’s loss while simultaneously managing complex legal proceedings.

Hiring a Wilmington wrongful death attorney makes a challenging situation a bit easier to bear. First, your legal team will review the details of your situation and help you make informed decisions about your case. Second, they can assist you in gathering evidence to prove a defendant’s liability for wrongful death. Third, they can help you prepare for court proceedings, so you do not feel intimidated by the courtroom environment. Finally, they’ll help you thoroughly explore every legal option for holding the defendant accountable for their actions. Ultimately, hiring a Wilmington wrongful death lawyer is the best way to approach this type of tragic situation.

The right attorney will help you maximize you and your family’s recovery from your claim. While money cannot take the place of your lost relative, it can make your transition to a new reality a bit easier to manage.

We Will Calculate Your Damages

In North Carolina, wrongful death damages may include compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering of the deceased, funeral expenses, and the loss of the deceased’s future income and benefits. In addition, compensation for the personal loss of your loved one’s society, companionship and comfort is typically included. Depending on the details of the case, additional punitive damages are possible.

If the negligence of another party caused your family member’s death, you are likely entitled to compensation. We have assisted families with cases involving:

• Car accidents. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance may only provide limited compensation for your family’s losses. We can help you take further legal action beyond an insurance claim when a negligent driver caused the death of a family member.
• Truck accidents. Accidents involving large trucks are inherently more damaging than most other vehicle accidents. Determining liability for a truck accident can be very difficult, and more than one party can be responsible for the death of a loved one from a truck accident.
• Motorcycle accidents. Motorcycles offer virtually no physical protection to riders when accidents happen. Our team can help you determine liability for the recent death of your loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident.
• Construction accidents. Construction is one of the most dangerous industries, and when a fatal accident occurs at work, you could have grounds for a claim for death benefits through the workers’ compensation system as well as a civil claim against a third-party responsible for the death.
• Workplace accidents. No matter where your loved one worked, if they died while performing job duties, your family is likely to have grounds for death benefits through the workers’ compensation system. However, you may have grounds for further legal action depending on how the death occurred.
• Traumatic brain injury. A head injury can be devastating, and some of these injuries cause tremendous pain and suffering before ultimately claiming the lives of some victims.

This is only a partial list. Please speak with one of our lawyers to discuss your case.

How To Prove Liability For Wrongful Death In North Carolina

Wrongful death claims are very similar to personal injury claims in that both types of civil claims revolve around the legal concept of “negligence,” or a failure to exercise reasonable caution and care in a given situation. While “negligence” implies an unintentional error or mistake, wrongful death claims and personal injuries may also result from intentional misconduct, such as violent crime, driving under the influence of alcohol, and other illegal activities.

There are four main elements to proving fault in a wrongful death claim in North Carolina:

1. You must identify the party or parties responsible for the death and prove they owed a duty of care in the situation that led to your loved one’s death.
2. You must prove the defendant violated the duty of care in question.
3. You must prove the defendant’s breached duty of care directly caused your loved one’s death.
4. You must provide evidence showing the full extent of the losses you and your family suffered from the wrongful death.

Your Wilmington wrongful death lawyer will help you compile your wrongful death claim. They can assist you in gathering material evidence, witness testimony and even consult relevant experts to provide expert witness testimony about the more complex aspects of your case.

FAQs About Wilmington, NC Wrongful Death Law

How Much Is A Wrongful Death Case Worth in Wilmington, NC?

A wrongful death claim can potentially yield substantial compensation for the deceased’s family. If you are unsure how much your wrongful death claim might be worth, it’s essential to consult a Wilmington wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. Your wrongful death claim may provide compensation for your family’s losses, but filing a survival action in tandem with your wrongful death claim can also help you recover losses incurred by your deceased loved one’s estate.

How Long Do You Have To File A Wrongful Death Suit In North Carolina?

North Carolina imposes a two-year statute of limitations or time limit on filing wrongful death claims. This means you must file your wrongful death action within two years of the death in question. However, if you learn that your loved one died due to another party’s actions well after the date of death, the statute of limitations may begin on the date you learned of the cause of the death.

Is Wrongful Death Hard To Prove in Wilmington?

Wrongful death functions on the same standard of proof as a personal injury claim. This means the plaintiff must identify the party responsible for the death and prove they were negligent or intentionally harmful in a way that directly caused the death. In addition, plaintiffs can prove wrongful death with physical evidence and witness testimony. Your wrongful death lawyer in Wilmington, NC, can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove wrongful death.

What Do Wrongful Death Damages Cover?

Wrongful death claims seek compensation for the family’s losses resulting from the death of their loved one. This means the family can recover funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the deceased’s lost financial support. In addition, if the deceased did not die immediately from the defendant’s actions, the family can pursue a survival action for damages incurred by the deceased’s estate between the defendant’s wrongful act and the death in question.

Contact A Wilmington, NC Wrongful Death Lawyer

You probably have lots of legal questions after a negligent party has caused the death of a loved one, and it’s natural to be frustrated and uncertain in this tragic situation. The sooner you secure legal counsel from an experienced Wilmington wrongful death lawyer, the easier it will be for you and your family to recover your damages. Please call our office at 910-251-8080 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-risk consultation.