Accidents or direct actions that contribute to a person’s death could mean the person’s next of kin is entitled to compensation for the person’s death. This compensation is meant to help cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and other costs that result from a person’s death, including also lost wages if the deceased was the head of household or significantly contributed to the household income. These are considered wrongful death cases and the next of kin will want to speak with an attorney to see if their case qualifies.
These cases are based on negligence or direct action and fall under the umbrella of personal injury cases, which might qualify as wrongful death if the victim dies as a result of their injuries. They commonly include car accidents, animal attacks, slip and fall accidents, workplace injuries, murder, manslaughter, and more. Many of these cases include a statute of limitations which limits the amount of time the next of kin has to file a civil suit to obtain compensation. Some are also limited by strict laws detailing who can create the claim, the amount of money that can be obtained, and whether or not the case qualifies.
In a criminal case, the person needs to be proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, while in a civil case the liability only needs to be proved by a preponderance of evidence, which means that a reasonable person would assume the person is liable for the death. For this reason, it is possible for a person to be found liable in civil court but not guilty in a criminal court when facing criminal charges and a lawsuit for the same crime. A personal injury case, including one based on a person’s death, does not have to include a criminal counterpart, but often it is easier for the person who caused the death to be considered liable if they have already been found guilty in a criminal case.
Anyone who has suffered the death of a loved one because of the negligence or direct action of another person or business should speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to determine if they may be eligible for compensation as the next of kin. For more information, visit Lawrz.com today.
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