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MEMPHIS WRONGFUL DEATH ATTORNEY

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Memphis Wrongful Death Lawyer

If you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence or willful act of another person or party, you could be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death action is filed in civil court and seeks to hold the at-fault party financially responsible for negligent actions. This means that even if a person is acquitted of murder or manslaughter charges in criminal court, he or she could still be held liable through a civil lawsuit.

The Memphis wrongful death attorneys of Reaves Law Firm, PLLC know that no amount of money can bring your loved one back, nor can it eliminate the anger and grief that you are feeling. However, filing a wrongful death lawsuit can help you demand a measure of justice and pursue compensation to ensure that you and your family don’t have to struggle financially in the wake of this tragedy.

Let our Memphis wrongful death attorneys be your voice during this challenging time. We are prepared to handle all of the legal legwork on your behalf so that you can focus on grieving your loved one and being with your family. Our attorneys will work to get answers as to why this tragic event happened and will seek full and fair compensation from the party responsible.

Talk to a knowledgeable Memphis wrongful death attorney today by calling (901) 403-7570 or by reaching out to us online to schedule a free, confidential consultation. One of our compassionate team members will be ready to sit down with you, discuss your legal options, and answer all your questions.

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HOW CAN A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER IN MEMPHIS HELP ME?

An experienced lawyer will understand the legal requirements and mechanics of proving a wrongful death case in Tennessee.

YOUR LAWYER WILL START BY SITTING DOWN WITH YOU DURING AN INITIAL CONSULTATION TO LISTEN TO YOUR STORY.

They will want to know how your loved one died and how the death has affected you and your family. They’ll provide you an honest assessment of your case and your legal options.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE THE CASE, YOUR ATTORNEY WILL INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT OR THE INTENTIONAL ACT THAT LED TO THE PERSON’S DEATH.

Your lawyer will collect and preserve vital evidence, get eyewitness statements, and consult with medical and financial experts to get a full picture of the case and the long-term effects it could have on your family.

YOUR WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER WILL THEN ISSUE A DEMAND LETTER TO THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY AND THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY SEEKING A FULL SETTLEMENT.

If the insurance company refuses to pay or if it tries to offer a lowball settlement, your attorney may file a lawsuit and take your case to court.

THE GOAL IS TO GET YOU THE MAXIMUM FINANCIAL COMPENSATION YOU NEED TO PAY FOR YOUR LOVED ONE’S FINAL MEDICAL EXPENSES (IF ANY) AND FUNERAL AND BURIAL COSTS.

Your attorney will also likely seek damages related to the loss of future earnings, emotional support, and other losses.

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WHO CAN PURSUE A WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM IN TENNESSEE?

It is important to note who can file a wrongful death claim for financial compensation in Tennessee. Typically, compensation would be awarded first to the surviving spouse.

However, if the victim did not have a spouse, the claim will fall to his or her childrensiblingsparents, or the personal representative of the estate.

Generally speaking, there are two ways in which compensation is awarded – damages from the initial incident and the pain and suffering of the victim, and damages awarded due to losses experienced by the next-of-kin following the victim’s death.

In the case of the victim’s losses, this generally covers:

  • Final medical expenses
  • Funeral and burial expenses

For next of kin, this includes:

  • Mental and physical suffering
  • Loss of necessary expenses
  • Loss of time

We understand that these can be complex concepts. The sensitive attorneys of Reaves Law Firm, PLLC are here to help you understand how the claims process works as well as help you understand your legal options following the unexpected loss of someone close to you.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

You may hear all kinds of advice from people regarding what to do and what not to do in the event of a car accident. We advise our clients to keep it simple:

  • Get medical treatment: First and foremost, make sure you and the occupants of your vehicle are safe. Be sure to get checked out by medical professionals, even if you don’t think you need to ride in the ambulance to the emergency room. Also, be sure to get treatment if symptoms arise after you leave the scene of your accident. Know that some very dangerous conditions can lead to long-term effects and even death if left untreated, and some of these have delayed symptoms.
  • Take pictures: If you are able, take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries. These can be important evidence in your case. If you cannot take this step yourself, ask a friend or family member to do so for you.
  • Get information from witnesses: If you are able, talk to any witnesses and get their contact information. Our car accident attorneys in Memphis can call on witnesses to provide additional perspectives of your accident. Be especially sure to get the contact information, insurance information, and vehicle information of anyone involved in the crash.
  • Call an attorney: Do not try to go through an auto accident claim process on your own. The earlier you get in touch with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer, the sooner your legal team can start gathering evidence, speaking to the insurance company, and working toward a successful resolution of your claim.
  • Do not talk to the insurance company: You will probably get a call from the insurance company for the other party in your accident. Do not talk to them. Insurance companies are notorious for taking advantage of victims by offering them less than optimal settlements or tricking them into making damaging statements. Instead, redirect calls from the insurance company to your legal counsel.
  • Keep bills and receipts that pertain to your injuries: Save any bills and receipts that relate to your injuries. We can always help you collect these bills later, but it is easier if you start saving them right away.

Even if you were unable to follow all of these steps, our attorneys are available to help. Contact us as soon as possible and let us advise you of the next steps in your case.

CAUSES OF WRONGFUL DEATH

Unintentional injuries are the third-leading cause of the death in the United States as of 2016, with over 160,000 unintentional injury deaths across the United States that year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some of these cases would fall into the category of “wrongful death,” in which negligence of some kind contributed to the accident. Common causes of wrongful death may include:

  • Car Accidents
  • 18-Wheeler Accidents
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Slip and Falls
  • Dangerous Premises Accidents
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Dangerous or Defective Products
The trusted Memphis wrongful death attorneys of Reaves Law Firm, PLLC have extensive experience helping families across Tennessee get the compensation they need and a measure of justice for their loved one.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PROVE WRONGFUL DEATH?

The most important element of any wrongful death claim is negligence. Negligence is a legal term, generally meaning that a person did not exercise a level of caution that a reasonable person would have under those same circumstances. In other words, this person or company had the choice to exercise care and caution but did not do so.

Depending on the specific circumstances, a person could be considered negligent if they:

  • Operated a vehicle while distracted, drowsy, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Failed to address a hazardous condition on their property
  • Failed to provide an acceptable standard of care (in the case of medical malpractice)
  • Did not adequately restrain their dog

These are only a few examples of negligence that could warrant a wrongful death claim if someone dies as a result. Your lawyer will need to collect evidence that demonstrates negligence and proves that the at-fault party failed in their duty to protect your loved one from harm.

Proving negligence can be challenging, so it is crucial to contact a skilled wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after an accident has claimed the life of someone close to you. Crucial evidence can be cleaned up, lost, or covered up as time progresses, so your lawyer will want to commence an investigation right away. 

CONTACT A WRONGFUL DEATH ATTORNEY IN MEMPHIS TODAY

The untimely death of a loved one can be devastating for you and your family. It can be even more difficult to cope with knowing that their death could have been prevented if someone had not behaved negligently. We understand what you are going through, and our Memphis wrongful death attorneys are here to help you get a measure of justice.

Our firm’s motto, Let Us Be Your Voice, sums up our mission: to represent your interests fairly and ensure your family’s needs are not ignored by the at-fault party or big insurance companies after a tragic loss.

If a family member or other loved one has died as a result of another’s negligence or through the willful actions of another person, you and your family may be entitled to significant financial compensation. You should contact a lawyer as soon as you can because Tennessee has a one-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims, meaning there is limited time to pursue a case.

Call the Memphis wrongful death attorneys of Reaves Law Firm, PLLC today at (901) 403-7570 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Our compassionate wrongful death lawyers are here to provide you counsel and support during this difficult time. We do not charge any fees upfront to start work on a wrongful death claim, and you don’t pay us unless we recover money for your family.

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