What is a Wrongful Death Claim?

1. What is a Wrongful Death Claim? A wrongful death claim is a type of lawsuit that is brought to court when a person dies as a result of someone else’s negligent act, be it intentional or otherwise. These claims are brought against defendants who have caused someone else’s demise, often by the person’s surviving family members and loved ones. A wrongful death defendant could be a person or several persons or perhaps an entity believed to hold responsibility for the death. Finding the right ​Oklahoma City wrongful death attorney is critical to the success of a family’s claim or a party’s defense in a wrongful death case. One of the most important aspects of a wrongful death claim is proving that the surviving family or loved ones filing the case have been harmed by the death. Another crucial aspect of this type of lawsuit is monetary damage, which can range from the resulting medical expenses and funeral costs to loss of income and benefits. Before there were wrongful death laws, these claims weren’t allowed nor did they exist under common law. Under these legal principles—passed down from the UK to the US over centuries—negligence claims simply died with victims, leaving survivors without any right to recover losses suffered resulting from a loved one’s death. Today, all states benefit from wrongful death laws and statutes. Although these laws aren’t identically drafted, common elements do exist at the core of each law. For instance, survivors must typically show/prove that the entity or person they are suing caused the victim’s death (whether in part or completely) and that the defendant has strict liability or responsibility for the death. When filing this type of claim, the victim’s dependents and beneficiaries must be alive and must prove that the death caused them losses that must be compensated. Because wrongful death laws have been drafted differently across states, they differ as to who may be sued and who may bring to court a wrongful death claim. This is why it is important to retain the services of an Oklahoma City wrongful death attorney so you can be guided accordingly as to the different processes that must be followed in order to pursue a

2. successful claim. An attorney specializing in these types of cases will have very specific knowledge regarding the laws, statutes, and provisions surrounding these claims and suits. If you believe to have a valid and justifiable claim over the wrongful death of a loved one, seeking a ​wrongful death claim​ is in order.