Should I File a Wrongful Death Claim in Boston?
The loss of a family member can have a profound effect on your financial and emotional wellbeing. After an intentional or neglectful act wrongfully kills your loved one, your family can feel at a loss. Though your options may seem limited, you can seek justice by promptly filing a wrongful death claim.
A wrongful death claim is warranted in Massachusetts if your loved one was wrongfully killed due to the neglect or intentional act of another person. In Massachusetts, a victim’s family is entitled to seek justice from the responsible party by filing a wrongful death claim. by pursuing litigation, your family can receive damages after the death of a loved one. However, families of victims need to know that they must file a lawsuit within three years of the wrongful death of their loved ones in Massachusetts. Otherwise, you will, unfortunately, lose your right to sue the responsible party.
After the unexpected loss of a loved one, your family deserves to seek justice on their behalf. The Massachusetts wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan are dedicated to recovering damages for families in the wake of such a tragic loss. For a free consultation with our compassionate team, call the Massachusetts wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan today at (617) 925-6407.
When Should Your Family File a Wrongful Death Claim in Massachusetts?
Unfortunately, wrongful death cases aren’t rare. Negligent or intentionally wrongful acts happen and can cause the death of another person. If a person or business has wrongfully killed your loved one, you can file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
According to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 229, § 2, a victim’s family has the right to sue for damages in a wrongful death case. While these damages can vary from case to case, your family can seek justice for the wrongful death of a loved one in Massachusetts.
Sometimes, understanding that the death of your loved one was caused by the negligent or intentional act of another is difficult. If you’re unsure about the circumstances of your loved one’s death, consider speaking with an attorney. an experienced lawyer can listen and advise you about the viability of your potential case. However, if you believe that your loved one was wrongfully killed, your family can pursue litigation against the responsible party within three years of their death in Massachusetts.
What Can Your Family Recover from a Wrongful Death Claim in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, the law protects those whose loved one has been wrongfully killed. Family members of a victim can seek justice by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. However, in the wake of the death of a loved one, the resulting trauma and grief can be overwhelming. Should such a tragedy happen to your family, a compassionate attorney can help you understand the gravity of your losses and how to redeem them through a lawsuit. While no amount of money can truly replace what you have lost, the law does provide compensation for the financial and emotional damages you’ve sustained. Under Massachusetts’ wrongful death law, this includes compensation for:
- Lost future income
- Loss of services
- Loss of protection
- Loss of care and assistance
- Loss of society, companionship, and comfort
- Loss of guidance, counsel, and advice
- Funeral and burial expenses
These are all losses you can seek to recover from the party responsible for your loved one’s death. If your loved one died at work and his or her employer has coverage for workers’ compensation, you may be able to seek benefits for lost income, funeral expenses, and burial expenses this way as well. Workers’ compensation provides “no fault” benefits which can provide critical assistance if you are not able to pursue a wrongful death claim against a third party.
Some of these losses seem impossible to quantify. it can feel strange to seek financial damages in the aftermath of a family member’s death. However, these laws exist to help the family of a victim grieve and recover. Often, the victim in a wrongful death case financially contributed to the welfare of their family. The goal of the Boston wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan is to seek financial assistance for your family after the death of a loved one. You and your family deserve time to grieve and process such a tragedy. Seeking damages in a wrongful death lawsuit can not only aid in the recovery process but can help get justice for your lost loved one.
Seeking Compensation for Your Loved One’s Losses Prior to Death
In many cases, a victim can spend a long time suffering from injuries before their untimely death. During that time, your family can incur hospital bills and become affected by lost wages. These losses should not be ignored during a wrongful death lawsuit.
In addition to seeking financial compensation for your own losses, you may be able to recover compensation for your loved one’s losses prior to death as well. For example, if your loved one spent time in the hospital before succumbing to his or her injuries, there could be significant medical expenses that need to be paid. If your loved one could have recovered these expenses through a personal injury claim had he or she survived the accident, you may be able to seek a recovery on their behalf.
The same holds true for pain and suffering, lost wages, and any other damages that your loved one incurred as a result of the accident. In a wrongful death case, families stand in the shoes of a deceased victim. The purpose of these types of lawsuits is to help the surviving family of a victim seek justice for their lost loved one. The family of a wrongfully killed victim can bring such a case because the victim cannot speak for themselves. Your family can seek damages for your loved one, in addition to damages for your own pain and suffering during a wrongful death case.
Wrongful death lawsuits can hold a responsible party accountable, financially and publicly. Bringing a case in the place of your loved one can cause a defendant to reconsider their actions or negligence. Such cases can prevent further accidents and negligence on behalf of the responsible party. Additionally, bringing a wrongful death lawsuit can be healing for your family, financially and emotionally.
How Do I File a Wrongful Death Claim in Massachusetts?
Deciding to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for losing your loved one is the first step in seeking justice. From there, you will need to hire an attorney who respects and understands the delicacy of your case. Finding the right legal team to represent your family’s interests can be difficult. Promptly choose a Reading personal injury lawyer who is compassionate and determined to recover damages to honor your lost loved one. While your family will undoubtedly need time to grieve after the death of a loved one, it is necessary to file a lawsuit within Massachusetts’ statute of limitations.
Hire an Attorney
If you want to take action to enforce your rights and seek compensation on behalf of your loved one, you will need to hire a Cambridge wrongful death attorney to represent you. The laws governing these claims are complicated, meaning that only an experienced legal team can help your family receive justice for the loss of your loved one. The aim of your attorney should be to make your family feel comfortable and heard. The loss of a loved one is devastating, and your attorney should be empathetic to your experience.
Because a wrongful death can greatly impact a family’s finances, a compassionate lawyer can waive hourly fees or require up-front costs. The Malden wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan aim to handle such claims on a contingency-fee basis. As a result, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by hiring experienced legal representation.
File Promptly
Understandably, your family might need time to come to terms with the death of a loved one and thus will need time to consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit against a responsible party. However, it is important to note that Massachusetts has a strict three-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims. If you wait longer than three years, you will lose your right to seek just compensation. Preparing a case to file takes time, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it may become to collect the evidence needed to build your case. As a result, as soon as you are ready, we recommend that you contact one of the Somerville wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan to get started with a free consultation. The sooner your family files a wrongful death lawsuit, the sooner you can begin to heal from the loss of your loved one.
Contact Our Massachusetts Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
After the death of a loved one, you deserve to seek justice on their behalf. Our attorneys are committed to helping victims and their families, and we want to help you stand up for your legal rights. For a free and confidential consultation, call the Wakefiled wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan today at (617) 925-6407.