Newport News Wrongful Death Lawyer
A Newport News wrongful death lawyer with Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can help you get the maximum compensation you deserve for the loss of a loved one in a wrongful death lawsuit. Our team of experienced lawyers has recovered millions of dollars in damages, such as for costly medical bills, lost financial support, and emotional anguish, and is ready to help you through this very difficult time.
On This Page
- How Can Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Help With Your Wrongful Death Claim?
- Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
- What Types of Accidents Lead to Wrongful Death?
- Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Newport News?
- What Is the Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Cases?
- Let Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Fight for You and Your Family
The sudden loss of a loved one to a wrongful death accident devastates the family members left behind. Although nothing can change what happened, pursuing justice with a wrongful death lawsuit is possible. If a death results from another party’s careless, reckless, or negligent actions, the decedent’s family has the right to demand compensation from those responsible. This can include payments needed to cover end-of-life expenses and compensation to the family for the void left in their lives.
Our compassionate Newport News wrongful death lawyers can work with you to help you understand your legal options, relevant Virginia laws, and what you can expect throughout the process. The attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can then work to gather the necessary evidence to hold individuals, insurance companies, and corporations liable for causing the wrongful death of your loved one. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Help With Your Wrongful Death Claim?
With more than 120 years of combined experience in personal injury law and an award-winning team of attorneys, Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers offers comprehensive legal services and compassionate support for families who unjustly lost a loved one. Our wrongful death lawyers provide the following:
- Guidance and counsel throughout the claims process
- Passionate advocacy for your best interests
- A thorough investigation of the incident to gather crucial evidence
- Strategic case-building using forensic specialists and medical professionals
- Accurate evaluation of damages to include in your claim
- The resources to take on big insurance companies that try to pay less than your claim is worth
- Top-notch negotiation and litigation skills to secure the maximum award that your family deserves
John Cooper has more than three decades of experience handling complex litigation. Our team and our founding partners have recovered tens of millions of dollars in damages, including the largest reported recovery of $6.5 million in 2020 for a single-car accident. Our successful case results reflect our dedication to justice and desire to help grieving families begin to heal. Call us now to speak with a Newport News personal injury lawyer.
Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
Although a wrongful death lawsuit is a type of personal injury claim, additional damages are unique to wrongful death cases. Families suffer emotionally, mentally, and financially as a result of the death and deserve compensation for all their losses.
As provided by VA Code §8.01-52, families of wrongful death victims may recover the following:
- Expenses for medical care and treatments before the resulting death
- Loss of income of the decedent
- Loss of services, protection, care, and assistance provided by the decedent
- Sorrow and mental anguish
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and advice
- Funeral and burial expenses
- In some cases, punitive damages meant to punish the at-fault party
Valuing these damages can be complicated and may require an economic expert to carefully and accurately measure the amount you can recover. If you want to move forward with a wrongful death suit and want to know more about what your claim may be worth, contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation.
What Types of Accidents Lead to Wrongful Death?
A death is considered wrongful when another party is responsible for negligent actions that lead to the death. VA Code §8.01-50 says a wrongful death suit is appropriate when someone would have had a personal injury lawsuit if the person survived.
For example, car accidents, such as rear-end collisions on Jefferson Ave or on Interstate 64, are a common source of personal injury lawsuits in Virginia. If a person is in a car crash and is killed because of the negligent driver’s actions, the family of the victim who passed away can work with an attorney to bring a wrongful death claim to recover damages.
Other accidents that may result in wrongful death cases include:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability cases, including slip and falls
- Product defects
If a family member died after an accident caused by another party’s negligence, you might qualify to bring a wrongful death lawsuit for compensation. Contact our Newport News team to learn more about your legal options after the sudden death of a loved one.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Newport News?
According to VA Code §8.01-50, a personal representative or executor of the deceased person’s estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
If the deceased person did not have a will designating a representative, an attorney can help to have you appointed as the administrator. Fetal deaths are an exception to this rule, allowing the natural mother to file the wrongful death claim directly.
In all wrongful death cases, the damages awarded as a result of the legal action go to the decedent’s beneficiaries. Under VA Code §8.01-53, statutory beneficiaries generally follow this order:
- Spouse
- Children
- Grandchildren
- Parents
- Siblings
- Dependent relatives
- Other surviving relatives
Wrongful death cases can be complex and overwhelming for grieving family members. If you need a trusted attorney who can help your family navigate the legal process, contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers now. We have extensive knowledge of Virginia laws and experience with local Newport News regulations that could affect your case.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Cases?
VA Code §8.01-244 limits the timeframe to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Virginia to two years after the person’s death. If your loved one was injured in an accident but passed away from their injuries at a later date, the statute of limitations goes into effect on the day your family member died—not on the day the accident occurred.
The decedent’s personal representative must bring the legal claim for compensation within two years or forfeit the right to recover damages. If your loved one was the victim of wrongful death, taking action as soon as possible is important to secure the financial compensation your family needs to get back on track.
Let Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Fight for You and Your Family
Suddenly losing a loved one in an accident can throw a family into stressful financial and emotional situations while trying to come to terms with what happened.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is the right choice for you. Our Newport News wrongful death attorneys offer compassionate support and trusted legal services to get you through this unimaginable tragedy. We will fight to secure the maximum amount for your claim to cover expenses and compensate you for your losses.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with our team. We have meeting locations in Newport News and other cities across Virginia.
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