No matter what the circumstances, you should consider getting a lawyer following a fatal car accident. This is true regardless of whether it was a loved one who was killed or whether you were the driver in an accident in which someone in the other vehicle and/or a pedestrian succumbed to their injuries. Fatal car accidents are tragic, but getting a lawyer after a deadly car crash is always a smart move.
What If My Family Member Was Killed in a Car Accident?
If a family member was involved in a fatal car accident, a lawyer could help you file a lawsuit that can help you obtain compensation to cover costs associated with that loss. A lawyer can assist you with filing a wrongful death claim, which is a claim for damages that can be brought by the victim’s spouse, parents, children, or a representative of the deceased individual’s estate. Those damages can help cover the costs of medical expenses, funeral and burial fees, and an award to compensate for the deceased individual’s pain and suffering.
Additionally, the deceased individual’s next of kin may receive compensation to cover financial burdens as a result of that person’s death. Such compensation includes wages the household will lose as a result of the deceased individual no longer working and contributing to the household. Additionally, some states permit damages for loss of consortium, which refers to when spouses and immediate family members are deprived of the deceased individual’s love and companionship. Some states will also award punitive damages under certain circumstances.
Finally, a lawyer can help you stand up for your rights in the face of an insurance company pushing for an early settlement, which is likely to be lower than what you deserve and would force you into releasing the at-fault driver from liability.
What if You Were the Driver of a Vehicle in a Fatal Car Accident?
If you were involved in a car accident in which the driver or passenger of the other vehicle and/or a pedestrian was injured, you need a lawyer to defend your rights. In fact, an attorney may be able to help prove that you are not at fault for the accident. For example, if the car accident occurred as the result of a malfunctioning traffic signal, then a lawyer can help prove that the city was at fault rather than you. A lawyer can also help determine if the other driver and/or pedestrian was engaged in distracted driving or was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Such circumstances could reduce, or in some circumstances even eliminate, your liability.
If your life has been impacted by the tragedy of a deadly car accident, you need legal help right away. If you were the driver in a deadly car accident or if a family member was killed in a car crash, the skilled attorneys at Williams Hart & Boundas are available to help. We have been winning cases in the Houston area for decades, so contact us for a free consultation about what we can do to help you.
