The death of a loved one or a family member is truly devastating. This is even more so when the person’s death was as a result of negligence or carelessness. There’s the tendency to feel that your loved one’s death wasn’t fair – that it was needless and preventable. And maybe it was and now it’s too late, but you can pursue justice for peace of mind!
In Connecticut, when a person dies from personal injury sustained due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, the deceased’s executor of the estate can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party on behalf of the family. Setting a legal claim in motion might be difficult for you, considering your grief, but moving fast on seeking redress is among the best ways to make sure that you and your family continue to be cared for.
Fast compensation claims won’t replace your deceased loved one, but they can help you get some justice. Also, the wrongful death claim will help you recover compensation for damages incurred in connection to your loved one’s injuries, death, or even funeral expenses. If you’re looking to file a wrongful death claim in Norwalk, Connecticut, Gould Injury Law can help.
Wrongful death claims in Norwalk can be very involved and require the knowledge of wrongful death laws and statutes. Our personal injury law firm serving Norwalk has considerable experience dealing with these cases. We also understand that you’re hurting at this time and that the claim or lawsuit process can be extremely confusing. This is why you should speak to one of our attorneys about your legal options.
Call us today at 888-WIN-FAST to schedule a free consultation to see if you can bring a wrongful death claim for fast compensation.
Can Relatives and Dependants File a CT Wrongful Death Suit?
Wrongful death cases may involve medical malpractice, work injuries, or a defective product. Whatever the cause of your family member’s death, Connecticut’s wrongful death claims can only be filed by the administrator or executor of the person’s estate.
If the person didn’t have a will or an estate executor, the state’s law courts will appoint one. The executor will then pursue the wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased’s family members.
Connecticut’s wrongful death cases can be civil or criminal lawsuits. Either way, the outcome of the case may be in the form of monetary compensation paid out to the deceased’s family members and dependents. However, a civil lawsuit is completely different from a criminal lawsuit, where the intent is to ensure that the at-fault person or entity is punished for negligence.
At times, wrongful death claims can be both civil and criminal cases. This is very possible. A combined civil and criminal wrongful death lawsuit is often seen in cases of medical malpractice and preventable accidents at work.
If you need help in order to determine the best course of action, feel free to contact any CT law office of Gould Injury Law for legal advice. Call us today at 888-WIN-FAST to schedule a free consultation.
What are the Grounds for Wrongful Death Lawsuits?
The easiest way to determine if you can file a wrongful death claim is to consider whether the deceased person would have filed a personal injury lawsuit if he or she had survived.
This is particularly important if you suspect or know that your loved one passed away due to medical malpractice, a work accident, defective products or drugs, or another preventable incident. If it’s clear that your loved one would have filed a personal injury claim for his or her damages (if merely injured), you then have solid grounds for a wrongful death claim.
In Connecticut, you must bring a wrongful death claim within 2 years of the deceased person’s passing or within 5 years of the date of the incident. For example, if the person sustained serious injuries due to medical malpractice but lived for over 2 years before passing away due to those injuries, then you still only have 5 years from the day the incident happened.
What Damages Can You Sue For in Norwalk, CT?
In Connecticut, damages can only be paid to the deceased individual’s estate once a settlement is agreed upon or the lawsuit is successful. Damages are usually determined by a jury, or the judge if there’s no jury present. The court may approve the following types of damages.
Economic damages
Economic damages may include medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of inheritance, and loss of benefits. Economic damages are designed to help the family recover enough to ensure that the family members are cared for in the wake of a family member’s death.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages cover intangible – but real – damages like mental anguish and emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of love, loss of consortium, and loss of guidance and protection. While these damages aren’t typically measured or quantified with receipts, their effects are very real. This is why non-economic damages can have higher payouts than economic damages.
Contact Gould Injury Law for Help
At Gould Injury Law firm, we prioritize the attorney-client relationship. For us, representing you in a wrongful death claim is about making sure that your family can still move forward after your loved one has passed away.
This is why we go all-out to defend you during this very difficult period. Each lawyer on our team has the essential experience and knowledge needed to secure a fast, favorable outcome in wrongful death claims and other practice areas.
Contact our law office at 888-WIN-FAST to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case.
