Columbus Wrongful Death Attorney

Demonstrating That You Have Experienced a Compensable Loss

Wrongful death claims are among the most difficult and important personal injury claims. While the deceased victim of someone else’s tragic negligence can’t seek justice, his or her family can do so on his or her behalf – in the form of a wrongful death claim. 

Wrongful death is an important area of the law that addresses the tragic loss of a loved one to someone else’s negligence. And while nothing can return our loved ones to us, a wrongful death claim can act as a form of justice for the lost family member and can provide you with the compensation you need to continue on the journey toward recovery. Wrongful death claims are emotionally difficult, but seeking a just resolution can also be emotionally beneficial. If you’ve lost a loved one to someone else’s negligence, a compassionate and committed Columbus wrongful death attorney can help. 

YOUR WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM

Your loved one died as a result of someone else’s negligence, and he or she obviously cannot pursue a personal injury case for damages suffered. The law’s answer to this conundrum is a wrongful death case brought by the decedent’s survivors for the damages they’ve suffered as a result of their loss. 

WHO MAY FILE?

Under Ohio law, a personal representative of the decedent’s estate brings the wrongful death claim, but the claim seeks damages on behalf of the person’s estate (which covers damages like medical bills incurred in the interim between injury and death and funeral and burial costs) and on behalf of his or her survivors, which can include:

• The decedent’s surviving spouse
• The decedent’s surviving children, including adopted children
• The decedent’s surviving parents

In some situations, other relatives – such as siblings – can also seek damages if they can demonstrate that they experienced a compensable loss. 

THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

In the State of Ohio, the statute of limitations for bringing a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of death. It’s important to point out, however, that the shock and pain of losing a loved one and the complicated nature of wrongful death claims can render this time constraint more limiting than it might seem at the outset. After suffering such a loss, it’s in your best interest to consult with a dedicated wrongful death attorney sooner rather than later. 

DAMAGES SOUGHT

The damages you can pursue in a wrongful death claim include all of the following:

• Loss of financial support – predicated on the income your loved one would reasonably have earned if he or she had lived to life expectancy
• Loss of services around the home, such as housework, childcare, yard work, and maintenance that your loved one would have provided
• Loss of your loved one’s care, advice, guidance, companionship, instruction, counsel, or society
• Loss of your prospective inheritance from your loved one
• The mental anguish you’ve endured as a result of your loved one’s untimely death  

COMMON CAUSES OF WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS

Every wrongful death claim follows its own course, but there are several common categories of such claims, including:

1. Traffic Accidents – Fatal traffic accidents, including car, truck, pedestrian, bike, and motorcycle accidents, are often caused by driver negligence, including distraction, impairment, excess speed, exhaustion, and aggression. 
2. Medical Malpractice – When medical professionals and/or medical facilities fail to live up to the necessary standard of care, it can lead to wrongful death claims.
3. Defective Consumer Products – When the consumer goods we purchase in good faith are dangerously flawed, they can lead to deadly accidents and injuries. Dangerous prescription medications are one example.
4. Slip and Falls – Slip and fall accidents (especially from heights, such as from a staircase) caused by negligently maintained premises can be deadly. 

YOU NEED AN EXPERIENCED COLUMBUS WRONGFUL DEATH ATTORNEY IN YOUR CORNER

Wrongful death claims are as painful as they are complicated, and Geoff Jones at The Jones Firm in Columbus, Ohio, is an accomplished wrongful death attorney whose own personal experience of loss informs his commitment to your case and his compassion for what you’re going through. We take great pride in our ability to help clients like you obtain just case resolutions. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 614-209-5162 today.