Need an Injury Attorney for a Vermont Wrongful Death Case?
No one expects to get in their vehicle and not make it safely to their destination. You never expected that your goodbye to them earlier that day would be the last time you would ever see them. What if the accident was caused by the negligence of someone else’s actions? The pain that comes with recovering from the accident can turn your life upside-down. Although no amount of financial compensation can erase what happened to your loved one, if the wrongful death of a family member was caused by another’s negligence, you have a right to seek fair and just compensation. If you found know a loved was involved in a catastrophic accident due to the negligence of another party, you may have a claim to recover.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
If you are the deceased person’s next of kin, you might have a wrongful death case if the other party was negligent, intentional, or reckless in causing the wrongful death. If the deceased person’s next of kin cannot or does not wish to be the representative, the court will assign a new personal representative for the claim.
Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
In Vermont, in order to receive wrongful death damages, you must be the deceased person’s surviving spouse and next of kin. If the deceased person left behind a surviving spouse but no children, damages will be awarded to the spouse. If there is no surviving spouse or children, but the deceased person has surviving parents, the parents will receive the wrongful death compensation. However, if there is a surviving parent but that parent has abandoned a child, the parent cannot recover damages from the child’s death, and likewise with the spouse.
Vermont offers damages in a wrongful death including but not limited to:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses for the deceased person’s injury or illness
- Emotional expenses such as loss of care, protection, and relationship
Vermont Statute of Limitations
Vermont sets a limit on the time available to file a wrongful death claim. You must file the case within two years from the discovery of the death, subject to certain exceptions. If the claim is not filed before the time frame, it will not be accepted, so it is critical to understand the filing deadline. If you need help or are running out of time to file your claim, speak with an attorney today.
Speak to an Attorney Today
If you have a wrongful death case, you should speak to NeedanInjuryVermont as soon as you can. It is understandable that you may feel vulnerable and frustrated. You may wonder if you have the right to lost wages such as funeral expenses and the emotional and mental suffering that you and your loved ones now experience. Do not wait to start your claim. Your family’s well being comes first because fair compensation can make a difference, ease financial problems, and guarantee some level of accountability.