What Legal Steps Can I Take If My Family Member Was Wrongfully Killed During a Car Accident in Monroe, LA?
When a passenger dies during a car accident their family members generally suffer a lot. This is especially true if the person who died was the breadwinner of the family and the one who was responsible for financially supporting everyone else. Even if the person did not hold such a significant role in running the finances of the house, their family members will obviously still feel a lot of emotional pain for the loss they suffered.
Anyone going through such a hard emotional time can benefit significantly from the help of a wrongful death lawyer in Monroe, LA. A wrongful death lawyer can ease a person’s pain by advising them on what steps they should take to bring ease into their life again after facing such a big loss.
What damages can I seek after a loved one was killed in a car accident?
When it is confirmed that a person has officially lost their family member they can seek the help of a qualified lawyer in order to demand damages from the person who caused the car accident to occur.
Some damages which may be sought are:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Car repair expenses
Before any claims can be made, however, it is essential that a person proves and figures out whom it is that was responsible for the accident in the first place. A wrongful death lawyer can help a person prove who was responsible by presenting the required evidence in a court trial.
In the case of a car accident, it will most probably be the driver of the other vehicle who will be held responsible for the damages. However, more parties may be involved depending on the exact situation that the person was in.
Apart from proving that someone was at fault during the accident, it is also important for a person to prove that they were indeed related to the deceased person and that the deceased person played a significant role in their life.
Lastly, it will also be necessary to gather evidence which can prove that the family will suffer a loss of income as well due to the death of this family member. Some evidence they can collect includes tax forms, pay stubs, and letters of employment if possible.
Is it necessary to call a lawyer?
It is always a good idea to have a legal professional on one’s side whenever a person is trying to earn some sort of compensation from another person in court. A lawyer can not only offer invaluable advice, but they can also do all the paperwork and put all the evidence together.
Generally, when individuals are grieving a deceased person they are not in the correct emotional state to deal with all of the paperwork required for filing a lawsuit or making a claim. A lawyer can take care of all of these legalities so that the family is able to grieve in peace.