Norfolk Wrongful Death Lawyer

Why should you retain a Norfolk wrongful death lawyer? You want to make sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions and that compensation is paid.

As odd as it may sound, there used to be no relief for certain types of wrongful deaths. These cases were primarily ones where the person was killed through the negligence of a third party. The problem was the situation didn’t rise to the level of a criminal act, but most states required the injured person to be alive to sue for monetary damages in civil court. The 1940s and 1950s saw major changes in this law as it became apparent that the loss of a spouse, particularly the income generating spouse, could decimate entire families. Now, every state allows survivors to bring a wrongful death claim.

So, just what are we talking about when we say wrongful death? As any Norfolk wrongful death lawyer can tell you, the term refers to a death caused by the negligent or intentional act of a third party. If this sounds like a broad definition, it is. The underlying cause can range from a doctor negligently failing to diagnose a medical condition that then becomes terminal to a person driving drunk and causing a fatal car accident. Heck, even murder can be the grounds for such an action as we saw in the OJ Simpson wrongful death matter that was undertaken after he prevailed in his criminal trial.

Wrongful death actions tend to be very large monetary cases. Why? Well, the damages tend to be calculated over the remaining projected lifespan the defendant would have had. For instance, let’s assume a husband makes $40,000 a year, is 30 years old and is killed in a car crash. He arguably would have worked for another 30 years, which means the damage award is $40,000 times 30 years. This equates to 1.2 million dollars. This also represents only one of the many kinds of damages that would be debated by a jury.

It is important to understand something very clearly. No amount of money is going to replace a lost loved one. That being said, we live in a practical world. If your spouse brought in most of the income to the household, you are quickly going to be facing a cash flow problem. Without that income, how will the mortgage be paid? How about the monthly bills? These are issues that simply have to be dealt with and a wrongful death lawsuit is the way to do it. Make sure to speak with a Norfolk wrongful death lawyer to learn more about your options.