After the death of a loved one, it’s hard to think about doing anything but grieving right now. The thought of a wrongful death claim seems like a lot of effort, and won’t it bring up more pain and suffering for your family? It could seem that way, especially if your case goes to court, but there are many good reasons to file a wrongful death claim.
For starters, the claim process can help bring you and your family some peace and closure, knowing that the person who brought about the wrongful death could be held to account for their actions.
In addition, your claim could actually lead to changes in laws or regulations, which could prevent similar harm from happening to someone else.
Finally, your claim could bring you and your family the financial compensation you need to pay for the costs associated with your loved one’s death. Funerals are expensive, and your loved one might have left medical bills and other expenses behind. You might also be entitled to compensation for losses like your pain, grief, and loss of consortium.
You are likely to have a lot of questions about the wrongful death claim filing process. One of the questions you probably have: Who is allowed to file a wrongful death claim in Virginia?
When you’ve lost someone you love, you probably want to file a claim or lawsuit no matter what their relation to you is. Unfortunately, you are only allowed to file a claim when a close family member dies due to someone else’s careless actions. This means that no matter how much you love your best friend, you can’t file a claim for their death.
The family members who are permitted to bring a fatal accident claim under Virginia law are parents, spouses, siblings, children, and grandchildren. Additionally, relatives who were living in the household of the deceased and were reliant on the deceased may be able to bring a claim. The family member can bring the claim or they could have a personal representative file it in Virginia.
It’s important that you know how long the state of Virginia will give you to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. You are given only two years from the date of death. Also keep in mind that it’s easier to prove a case when evidence has been collected right away.
There are many other things to consider when bringing forth a wrongful death claim against the person who caused your loved one’s death. You aren’t expected to deal with the claim process alone. A Virginia lawyer can help you in your efforts to obtain justice and compensation for you and your family.
Contact a top-rated Richmond personal injury attorney at Halperin Law Center to discuss your wrongful death claim options. Dial 804-527-0100, or check out our website, where you can learn more about what to expect when filing a fatal accident claim in Virginia.
