When a person dies as a result of carelessness on the part of someone else, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it constitutes a wrongful death claim. Family members of the deceased person can file a lawsuit against that person. There could be negligence, criminal activity, or some other reason leading to the death of the individual.
In Rockford, you can only file the claim when the negligence leads to the death or severe injury of the victim.
It could either be one person leading to the death of the individual or a corporation that is responsible for the death. For instance, a company manufacturing a product that resulted in the death of an individual.
Wrongful death can impact other members of the family severely and can cause deep psychological distress. This is why people should know how to seek help and protect their rights. To get in touch with a law firm in Rockford, you can check the website. They can help you gather evidence and file a lawsuit against the other party.
Who is eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
The laws can differ from state to state; there are several people who are related to the victim who can file lawsuits. Let us have a better understanding of this:
- Spouses and children:
People who are immediate family members of the deceased person can file a lawsuit.
It also includes children who are adopted, and the parents of the children who are unmarried can also seek compensation in such cases.
- Those who were financially dependent on the deceased person.
People who are in relation with the deceased person in a way that the victim was the only one earning for them have a right to seek compensation.
Furthermore, a person who has a strong belief that they were married to the victim is also eligible to seek compensation.
- Siblings also have rights under some state laws.
Not all states but some may offer the right to the siblings and other family members such as grandparents to seek compensation.
- People who are in relation by blood but are dependent financially.
Some laws also allow those who were financially dependent on the dead person to seek compensation and file a lawsuit.
Who are the people that can be sued?
There can be different people who can be sued for wrongful death cases. It can be an employee, an organization, a company, etc.
To give you an example, if a car accident results in the death of a person, there are multiple factors to consider.
Furthermore, there can be different defendants (accused), such as:
- The person who was driving
- The person who built the faulty road.
- An employee who was not able to provide adequate warning signs.
- The manufacturer who designed the car and the faulty system were not taken care of.
- The one who sold the liquor to the drunk driver.
- The owner of the bar or some other place from the alcohol was taken by the driver.
What is the statute of limitation for filing the lawsuit?
The statute of limitations is the time period under which a person can file a lawsuit. Any claim for compensation made after that time period will not be considered.
In different places, there can be sight differences. However, roughly, it is two to three years from when the death of the person took place.
There can be some limitations and outliers as well. Claiming after a particular time will not be considered, and no compensation will be given for the wrongful death.
A professional can help you file the lawsuit successfully within the stipulated time period.
Thinking of taking legal action? Hire a lawyer!
It is better to get in touch with a skilled attorney in Rockford and rely on their expertise.
They will keep you informed at every step, and you can also ask any related questions whenever you feel like.