Waterford – New London, CT RI Wrongful Death Lawyers
Did a loved one die in a car or truck accident with a negligent driver on Interstates 95 or 395, or elsewhere in Waterford? Did a boating or swimming accident claim their life in Niantic Bay or off Waterford Beach? Preventable slips and falls at places like our Walmart Supercenter off Parkway can turn surprisingly deadly.
Losing a loved one in an avoidable accident can sometimes cause more pain than losing them another way. Many people feel anger and desire for justice in addition to their grief.
When someone passes away due to injuries suffered in a preventable accident, the legal world calls it a wrongful death. Connecticut law allows families who have lost a loved one because of another party’s negligence or reckless actions to seek compensatory damages against that party to cover their losses.
At Polito Harrington, we know that no amount of money can replace the presence of your loved one. However, a settlement for compensatory damages can relieve much of the financial struggles you or your family may be having and help you perform important tasks like buying groceries and getting your children through school.
When you work with the Waterford wrongful death lawyers at our Waterford, CT personal injury firm, they’ll fight hard to hold the party responsible for the tragic occurrence accountable, protecting your interests and defending your legal rights all the way. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced wrongful death lawyers.
How a Wrongful Death Differs From an Accidental Death?
Wrongful deaths and accidental deaths share many common characteristics. The key difference between the two lies in whether another party was negligent, creating dangerous and deadly circumstances in the process, or committed reckless actions that led to the accident that resulted in death.
The causes of a wrongful death can vary widely, from a car accident involving a drunk driver to a lethal workplace accident. However, determining a wrongful death depends on whether your loved one would have been eligible to file a personal injury suit against the at-fault party had they survived their injuries.
For example, if a drunk driver struck your loved one, they would be considered negligent and therefore liable for any injuries the victim sustained.
However, if your loved one died in an accident that was truly accidental meaning the situation couldn’t have been avoided, their death, while devastating, wouldn’t legally constitute a wrongful death.
Each situation must be evaluated individually, and your wrongful death lawyer will consider all the relevant factors involved.
Common causes of wrongful death include:
- Malfunctioning or defective consumer products
- Accidental poisonings or overdoses
- Car or motorcycle collisions
- Pedestrian traffic accidents
- Medical misdiagnosis or malpractice
- Accidents in the workplace
- Premises liability accidents such as a slip and fall
These aren’t the only situations that could end in a wrongful death. Even if your circumstances aren’t described above, you might still have a valid claim for wrongful death. The veteran wrongful death attorneys at Polito Harrington can advise you of your legal options following your loved one’s death.
How Our Waterford Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help Your Family?
Our Waterford wrongful death lawyers can conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances that caused your loved one’s death. This may include analyzing photos or video footage of the accident and reviewing witness accounts. They may also look at the safety records for the site of the accident, such as job safety audits.
If your loved one died as a result of medical malpractice, your attorney will investigate the physician to establish a history of errors or see if the hospital or clinic allowed them to practice without the proper qualifications.
In wrongful death cases, the insurance company for the party that caused the accident is typically on the hook for paying a settlement claim.
As your wrongful death attorneys, we’ll handle all communication with the defendant and their insurance adjuster so your family can grieve privately. We’ll also negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf and file all the necessary legal paperwork related to your case in a timely fashion.
What Kind of Compensation Is Permitted With a Wrongful Death Case in CT RI?
Wrongful death compensation cannot replace a loved one. No amount of money could ever accomplish that. In calculating a settlement for a CT or RI wrongful death case to support you and your family in the future, the law relies on a few metrics:
- Loss of future earnings
- Loss of life’s enjoyment, the ultimate loss
- Medical and burial expenses
- The victim’s pain and suffering before death
- Survivors’ inability to carry on activities that they did before
Typically, this compensation is paid by the insurance company. In litigation, insurance companies often make “low–ball” offers. The insurance companies try to minimize the survivors’ future needs, and instead focus on decreasing the amount of money they have to pay.
Do not let yourself be victimized again. You can only stand up to these tactics with the help of an experienced wrongful death lawyer in CT or RI. We strongly encourage anyone who lost a loved one to hire a wrongful death lawyer as soon as you can, even if it is not our personal injury firm in CT. Any delay could hurt your case.
At Polito Harrington, we believe that legal service is about more than just winning big settlements. It is about helping people who are going through one of the toughest times of their lives. Our Waterford – New London, CT RI wrongful death lawyers strive to form meaningful, lasting relationships with personal injury clients.
We will work hard to hold people and companies responsible for a death, caused by their carelessness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Waterford Wrongful Death Cases
At Polito Harrington LLC, we understand that each case is different and that the events that led to your loved one’s death are likely unique.
When you schedule an initial consultation with one of our compassionate wrongful death attorneys, they’ll carefully assess your situation by asking and answering pertinent questions. Here are some of the questions we often get from clients.
How Do I Know Whether My Loved One Would Have Been Able to File a Personal Injury Suit After Their Accident?
Personal injury claims are based on the legal principle of negligence. This means that if one party (either a person or an entity like a property owner, consumer products manufacturer, or healthcare facility) has a duty of care toward others, such as maintaining safe premises or releasing safe products, and they fail in that care, they’re considered negligent.
Negligent actors may be legally liable for any injuries they cause another party due to their breach of this duty. It’s your wrongful death lawyer’s responsibility to prove that your loved one’s accident was the result of negligence and that the other party owes your family compensation for your loss.
What Kinds of Damages Are Covered in a Wrongful Death Case?
If your loved one had medical treatment before they passed, the money you receive from your settlement would go toward covering those expenses, as well as the costs associated with their funeral and burial.
If you depended on them financially, the damages could also include compensation for loss of income and potential contributions like a pension, salary, or similar financial advantages.
You may also be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering and emotional trauma.
Many people understandably feel uncomfortable putting a dollar amount on the Wrongful death of a loved one. However, it’s important to remember that they wouldn’t have wanted you and your family to struggle with mounting bills and other expenses. A successful settlement can offset the difficulty posed by such costs in the wake of a wrongful death.
Seek Representation from a Qualified Waterford Wrongful Death Attorney
If you’ve lost a loved one because of another person’s negligence, the seasoned attorneys at Polito Harrington can help.
It is impossible to describe the grief felt by those who have lost a loved one in a fatal accident. That grief is intensified when the loss is caused by someone’s negligence. At Polito Harrington, our goal is to bring our clients comfort and peace of mind. Providing compassionate, caring service, we’ll do everything we can to help you move forward and prepare for the future.
Our Waterford – New London, CT RI personal injury lawyers, Humbert Polito and James Harrington provide very personal, hands–on service, working directly with each personal injury client.
We pride ourselves on providing compassionate and professional legal representation, and we’d be honored to represent your family in mediation or a court of law. Contact us today at (860) 447-3300 for your complimentary case review.
We are proud of our long record of successful personal injury verdicts and settlements in CT RI, achieved for the benefit of our clients.
Polito & Harrington LLC - Waterford Office
567 Vauxhall Street Ext.
Suite 230, Waterford, CT 06385
Phone: (860) 447-3300
Fax: (860) 447-3389
Mail: hpolito@politolaw.com
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