Losing a loved one to a workplace or traffic accident is a life changing event that nobody can be prepared to deal with. There are so many things you’ll need to sort out in the wake of a fatal accident, and one of them is the wrongful death suit in the event someone else was partially responsible for their death. There’s no perfect playbook for handling these situations, but there are some things you’ll want to do and want to avoid as you try to move forward with your life. We explain what those options are in today’s blog.
What To Do After A Wrongful Death Accident
As tough as it may be to move forward following a wrongful death accident, here’s what you’ll want to do.
Hire a Lawyer – Hiring a lawyer tops the list of things you should do in the wake of a wrongful death accident. Doing so allows you to focus on the critical aspects of your life, like yourself and your family, while a lawyer handles the intricacies of the wrongful death claim. Let them collect witness statements and meet deadlines while you take time to grieve and handle your mental health.
Keep Records – Keep detailed records of anything pertaining to the accident and injury claim, including who you spoke to and what letters or documents you receive. Pass this information on to your lawyer. Again, they’ll use all this information to build a strong case, and you can have the peace of mind knowing that you’re not overlooking something that needs to be handled right away.
Act Quickly – It can be easy to push off a wrongful death claim while you deal with final arrangements and family matters, but this can significantly hurt your case. Aside from the fact that details and witness accounts may not be as clear weeks or months after the accident, there are also strict deadlines that need to be met. If you take too long, your claim may be denied for no other reason other than the fact that you took too long to bring a suit. Your lawyer can get the ball rolling while you focus on other aspects of your life.
What Not To Do After A Wrongful Death Accident
On the flip side, here are some things you’ll want to avoid following a wrongful death accident.
Talk About The Case On Social Media – When talking about the death on social media, keep the details to a minimum. Anything you say on these sites can be used against you in your case, and even if you don’t think you’re hurting your case, you could be by oversharing. If you need to share details with loved ones online, focus on the loved one, not the specifics of the accident.
Talk To Insurance Agents On Your Own – Avoid talking to anyone from the insurance company without first consulting your lawyer. These people may be looking to limit their liability for the accident, so be very careful about how you answer their questions. Request that your lawyer be present for this conversation, or talk with your lawyer about how to prepare for this conversation so you don’t hurt your claim.
Assume You’re Not Entitled To Damages – Don’t assume that just because it was an accident that you aren’t entitled to compensation. Freak and unpreventable accidents occur, but businesses and automobile owners carry insurance policies for these types of situations. Even if there is nobody to blame, you still may be entitled to compensation. At a minimum, sit down with a lawyer and go over your options. If you don’t you could be forfeiting hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Wrongful death cases are stressful and complex, but we’ll help anyway we can. Contact Hey Workers today for more information about how we can help you with your claim in the greater Twin Cities area.
