Wrongful Death Attorney In St. Louis, MO
Find Counsel From A St Louis Wrongful Death Attorney
The loss of a loved one is devastating, but when a life is cut short because of the negligence or recklessness of another, the sheer sense of injustice can feel maddening. We’ve met face to face with clients whose sorrow is beyond words. While compensation can never heal their loss, it can alleviate significant financial burden and force the at-fault party to accept responsibility for their part in tragedy. It’s hard enough to suffer the emotional distress of losing a loved one; when financial stress is added to the picture, the experience can exacerbate difficulties.
Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers has almost a full century of experience pursuing justice for victims of personal injury and wrongful death. We understand the loss a family experiences can be overwhelming. We offer caring service in addition to our sound legal counsel. We have proven track record for success and have helped victims’ families win millions in litigation. If you are looking for a wrongful death attorney in St. Louis, MO, we can help.
Wrongful Death in the State of Missouri
Wrongful death cases are civil lawsuits. These cases fall under the umbrella of personal injury law. In order to win compensation, claimants must prove that the defendant is liable for or caused the death of a loved one. Each state has its own statutes regarding wrongful death claims. In Missouri, the surviving spouse, children, or grandchildren may file a claim. The parents of the individual can also file a claim as is usual when the deceased is a child. If there is no surviving spouse, child, grandchild, or parent, the deceased’s sibling can file a claim. If no sibling exists, the representative of the deceased’s estate can file the claim. If you are uncertain about who can file a wrongful death suit, you can turn to Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers for legal advice.
Damages
Claimants can file a wrongful death suit in order to seek compensation for various types of damages. The most common damages include:
- Wake, funeral, or burial expenses
- Medical expenses related to the deceased’s injury
- The estimated value of salary and benefits the deceased person would likely have earned
- Loss of the deceased’s companionship, comfort, or guidance
In Missouri, there is a cap for non-economic damages, which are damages related to pain and suffering. The cap for non-economic damages in Missouri is $350,000. Each year, this amount is adjusted for inflation.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim?
In Missouri, claimants have three years from the time of a loved one’s death to file a wrongful death suit. After losing a loved one tragically, family members don’t often prioritize their legal claim right away. This is understandable. However, it can be helpful to consult with one of our attorneys who can apprise you of information like time limits and other filing details.
The reason we advise family members of the deceased to get in touch with us relatively soon after the event is because it may be easier to procure evidence. Over time, witnesses can move or even forget some of the details about what they witnessed. Damaged vehicles may be totaled and lost before photos of their damaged parts can be taken. We understand losing a loved one in a tragic accident is a sensitive time. That’s why we promise to manage all the legal aspects. We can investigate the accident and help piece all the evidence together in order to build a strong case.
Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers Can Help
When you allow Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers to represent you, you can depend on our experienced attorneys to guide you through the legal journey. You can expect us to provide services like:
- Answer your legal questions
- Provide you with sound legal advice
- Assess your claim
- Investigate the accident
- Procure additional evidence that supports the claim (i.e. obtain witness statements)
- Provide regular updates to client
- Communicate with the defendant’s attorneys and insurance company
- Negotiate or litigate as needed
Many clients are loath to walk into large law firms where they’re left feeling like a mere case file. This doesn’t happen when you hire an attorney at Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers to represent you. We care about our clients. They’ve suffered and we want to help them achieve justice and compensation for what they’ve endured. Family members often grieve for years so we know how difficult it can be to relive this loss at each court appearance. But the experience can be softened by knowing that your claim is in utterly competent and experienced hands.
Negotiation or Litigation?
There are many examples of clear-cut wrongful death cases. As it happens, drunk driving is a leading cause of car accidents on Missouri roads. If a driver who is over the limit for alcohol runs a red light and T-bones another vehicle, killing the innocent driver, the fault is clear. In cases like this, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is likely going to try to negotiate a settlement, knowing that their expenses could increase even more if the case proceeds into litigation.
Sometimes a claimant doesn’t choose to accept the offer of compensation or the at-fault party is unwilling to negotiate. In these instances, we can litigate the matter at court before a jury or judge. Our attorneys are skilled at negotiating and litigating. We know what are clients are due. We’ll fight as hard as we can so that they achieve the fair compensation that is their right. If we cannot negotiate a settlement for whatever reason, we will litigate tenaciously in order to effectively represent our clients.
If you’ve lost a loved one because of someone’s else’s careless, negligence, or wrong-doing, contact us and let us examine your claim. There is no obligation, but having some initial advice from an experienced wrongful death attorney may help, especially if you do choose to file a claim in the future. If you wish to proceed, we’ll handle all the legal aspects of the case. Call us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
