Top Rated Wrongful Death Attorney Columbus, Ohio
At SELPH LAW, we have over 25 years of combined experience helping the families of individuals who have passed away due to another party’s negligence. If you’re looking for a wrongful death attorney near Columbus, Ohio, contact us at (614) 453-0971 today.
The third leading cause of death in the United States is unintentional injuries.
In 2017 alone, nearly 170,000 people died as a result of an unintentional injury.
When a preventable death results from another party’s negligence, there is legal recourse through the means of a wrongful death claim.
There are few things more tragic than experience an unexpected and preventable death in your family. It is possible to recover the damages that you and your family have incurred through a wrongful death claim.
What Is an Ohio Wrongful Death Claim?
An Ohio wrongful death claim is a civil suit. They are typically brought by close relatives of the deceased against a person or an entity whose actions or negligence led to their family member’s death.
Since a wrongful death claim is not a criminal prosecution, these cases do not result in prison time or conviction fines. Instead, a successful claim results in the at-fault party financially compensating the plaintiff.
There is a long list of negligent acts that can result in wrongful death claims. Some common situations that wrongful death suits can result from are:
- Motorcycle accidents
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Birth injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Defective medical devices
- Defective medications
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Violent crime
- Sporting accidents
It’s important to understand that when a wrongful death claim is brought against a defendant, their insurance company has an interest in the case as well.
What Kind of Compensation Might You Be Entitled to For a Wrongful Death in Ohio?
Family members of the deceased can experience far-reaching effects after an unexpected death in the family. All circumstances of wrongful death are tragic and can be incredibly emotionally damaging to the relatives left behind. On top of this, they are often responsible for the final expenses of the deceased and no longer have their financial contributions to help them survive.
Because of the complicated impact of a wrongful death on the surviving family members, there are a number of different forms of compensation that can result from a wrongful death claim, including:
- Medical expenses
- Final expenses
- Lost insurance benefits
- Future retirement savings
- Lost financial support
- Lost income during the time in between the injury and the death
- Pain and suffering
- Lost emotional support
Depending on the circumstances, it is also possible to recover punitive damages. This happens in cases where the negligence that led to the wrongful death was particularly heinous.
It can be incredibly complicated to determine how much compensation your family is entitled to following a wrongful death. A wrongful death lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, will ensure that you can determine a fair amount of compensation as a result of the tragic incident. They’re networked with a long list of experts, such as financial analysts and psychologists, who can help look at your case from every angle.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Ohio?
The state of Ohio presumes that, following the wrongful death of a loved one, certain family members would have suffered a direct loss. These people include:
- The spouse
- Children
- Surviving parents
It is worth noting that it is possible for other family members to file a wrongful death claim in certain circumstances. That being said, they will most likely need to prove to the court they they suffered a direct loss as a result of the wrongful death.
Our Wrongful Death Attorney in Columbus, Ohio, Can Help You Receive the Compensation You and Your Family Are Entitled To
The damages that a family can face after the wrongful death of a loved one are truly tragic. On top of the emotional grief they experience as a result of the unexpected death, there can be medical expenses, a loss of income, and other financial difficulties.
At SELPH LAW, we have over 25 years of combined experience helping the families of individuals who have passed away due to another party’s negligence. If you’re looking for a Columbus wrongful death lawyer, contact us at (614) 453-0971 today.