Rocky River Wrongful Death Lawyer

While no amount of compensation will make up for the loss of a loved one, a wrongful death lawsuit can help you hold the at-fault party responsible. By recovering compensation from the liable person, you can also ensure the death does not force your family members to alter their lifestyle due to financial concerns. Schedule a consultation with a Rocky River wrongful death lawyer at Mellino Law Firm, LLC to discuss your case today.

Who can file a wrongful death claim?

Ohio law allows for a wrongful death claim in any circumstance when the victim could have filed a personal injury claim (i.e., if another person’s negligence caused your injury, such as through a car accident, slip and fall, medical malpractice, etc.) to recover damages.

After the victim passes away, a personal representative can file a claim on the deceased’s behalf to recover compensation for the estate and the surviving family members.

While this personal representative may or may not be a family member, those who benefit from these claims are always immediate family members who suffered losses due to the death of their loved one. These typically include:

• The spouse
• Children
• Parents

Experienced Rocky River Wrongful Death Attorney

What types of damages can I recover in a wrongful death suit?

Ohio law gives family members two years from the date of their loved one’s death to file a claim against the at-fault party. In a wrongful death claim, family members and the deceased’s estate can recover compensation for a wide variety of losses, including:

For the Estate

• Medical costs
• Funeral costs
• Lost wages and financial standing
• Pain and suffering

For Surviving Family Members

• Loss of services, especially the deceased’s role in caring for the family and home
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of inheritance
• Mental anguish

In addition to determining how much compensation goes to the estate, the court also determines how to divide this compensation between the surviving family members. A surviving spouse and children, for example, often receive a larger payout than the parents because the loss directly affects their ability to pay a mortgage, pay bills, etc.

What evidence do I need to prove damages?

Some damages are easy to prove, and others are more difficult because they require projecting potential future income or quantifying emotional losses. Lost wages are particularly important in wrongful death cases because they often add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.

Proving this type of loss requires expert testimony from economists and others who can analyze your loved one’s potential career path and estimate his future income.

Trusted Ohio Wrongful Death Law Firm

How can a lawyer help us recover wrongful death compensation?

Expert testimony plays a key role in most wrongful death cases and enlisting the best experts to argue on your behalf can make a big difference in how much compensation your family recovers. With the help of an Ohio wrongful death attorney, you can feel confident that you will receive the maximum possible payout. Contact a Rocky River wrongful death lawyer at Mellino Law Firm, LLC to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.