Devotion And Support After The Tragic Loss Of A Loved One
If you are visiting this page after recently losing a loved one, we are very sorry for your loss. Nothing can replace your loved one, but we hope to help you find consolation and justice through answers and financial recovery. Our skilled, devoted legal team at Holland Injury Law, LLC, can guide you through the recovery process.
Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Who Can Bring A Claim?
In Missouri, the spouse, child or parent of a deceased adult may pursue a wrongful death claim. Missouri law also allows a parent to bring forth wrongful death claims after a minor child has been killed in a serious accident. A sibling may bring forth a claim only in cases where no other surviving family members exist. Illinois allows the spouse, child or parent of a deceased minor to file a claim.
Is Wrongful Death Criminal or Civil?
Wrongful death claims are brought forth by a surviving family member of the deceased. A wrongful death claim generally focuses on recovery money rather than punishing the at-fault party with prison or fines, thus it is a civil matter. To prove a wrongful death, you must be able to:
- Demonstrate the death of your loved one
- Prove the responsibly party caused the death through negligence or harmful intent
- Show that the death of the victim caused financial losses for the surviving family members
Consult with an attorney to clear up any questions you may have about liability, eligibility for recovery and how to initiate legal action.
Can I file a wrongful death claim against a truck driver?
In Kansas and Missouri, a wrongful death lawsuit can be brought against anyone whose negligence contributed to the accident, injury or death. In a commercial vehicle or truck accident, the driver’s negligence may have contributed to the cause of the accident. The company who employed the driver may also be responsible if they failed to maintain the truck properly or neglected to train the driver appropriately. If an equipment issue was involved, the companies who manufactured various parts for the truck may also be responsible for negligence. In other words, a wrongful death action may include multiple parties. Holland Injury Law, LLC, will work diligently to discern who might have been responsible for the accident and fight for justice on behalf of your loved one.
Who should be held responsible if my loved one died in the hospital?
When a loved one dies in the hospital, there may be multiple layers to a wrongful death lawsuit. For example, if your loved one was in the hospital because they were involved in a car crash, the person or parties responsible for the original accident may be held responsible because the original event ultimately led to your loved one’s death. But researchers at Johns Hopkins estimate that medical mistakes cause more than 250,000 deaths each year. If a medical mistake contributed to the death of your loved one, additionally, a lawsuit could also be brought against the negligent nurse, physician or other health care providers. The hospital could also be held responsible if there was negligence involved in the hiring or supervising of employees or maintenance of the medical equipment. In other words, multiple parties may be held liable in wrongful death actions. Our legal team will work hard to make sure we include anyone who may be responsible.
How can I find an attorney I can trust?
A wrongful death lawsuit requires serious experience and compassion. Don’t work with just any lawyer. When considering an attorney to represent you in a wrongful death action, consider their experience and past results. Attorney Bill Holland has over 30 years of experience, he has litigated dozens of cases and obtained millions of dollars on behalf of his clients.
We fought for the wrongful death of a child whose life was lost due to faulty tire tread separation. We negotiated a $1,250,000 settlement for the family. The family can rest a little easier knowing they obtained justice for their child.
More Than Just Money — Justice For Your Loved One
Although nothing can take the place of your lost loved one, compensation from a wrongful death claim can help cover funeral and medical expenses, lost future wage replacement and loss of parental guidance or companionship. Our trial lawyers have brought many jury cases to verdict and have recovered millions of dollars for plaintiffs in injury and fatality cases.
Many families also feel comforted knowing their loved one’s loss has been brought to some degree of justice through a wrongful death settlement or verdict. We can insist companies change the way they do business, add training and fire employees. We also encourage our clients to fully cooperate with prosecutors and their investigators. Some wrongdoers deserve the full measure of the criminal justice system as well.
We Are Here For You. Call Today.
We are here to provide you with personalized care during this painful time while seeking justice after your loved one’s fatal accident. Call our St. Louis office at 314-428-9279, or reach out to us via email to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated, tenacious wrongful death attorneys.