Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing a loved one is never easy, especially when it is sudden or unexpected. Losing someone because of the carelessness or fault of another person can be devastating. Wanting to blame someone else is completely normal after losing a loved one, and in some situations, your blame is entirely warranted. When your loved one is killed because of the fault of another person, you might be able to seek legal recourse.

What is a Wrongful Death Claim?

When someone passes due to the fault of another person, their loved ones may be able to bring a wrongful death claim on their behalf. Essentially, if the person who was killed could have sued for a personal injury if they had survived, then their loved one likely has a claim for wrongful death.

You can assert a wrongful death claim against virtually anyone, including businesses and manufacturers. Even governmental entities can be legally responsible for the passing of an individual in some situations.

Most wrongful death claims involve the following circumstances.

  • Auto accidents
  • Defective products
  • Defective medical devices
  • Birth injuries
  • Medical malpractice
  • Drug injuries

Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Wrongful death lawsuits involve unique compensation or “damages.” The most common damages asserted in a wrongful death claim involve monies spent on caring for and burying your loved one, such as medical bills and funeral expenses. Another common damage involves the monetary contribution that your loved one would have provided to his or her family. These might include:

  • Lost wages
  • Lost benefits such as pension or retirement plans
  • Loss of inheritance
  • Loss of the value of the services that your loved one would have provided to his or her family

These damages may require an expert to predict how long your loved one would have lived and how much he or she would have earned in their lifetime. These calculations can be difficult, so using an experienced wrongful death attorney is particularly important to ensure that you get these calculations right.

Other damages are based on emotional loss. There is no replacement for your loved one, but the law does allow compensation for your loss. While money is never a good replacement for the loss of your spouse, child, or loved one, it is the only remedy that the law can offer. Damages that are more focused on emotional losses may include:

  • Damages for mental anguish
  • Loss of love and companionship
  • Loss of consortium (for the spouse)
  • Loss of the care, advice, training, and nurturing that your loved one would have provided children or other dependents

In rare situations, there may be one more form of damage available. These damages are referred to as punitive damages because they are designed to punish the wrongdoer. They are more focused on the action of the person at fault, instead of looking at your loss. These damages are only available in particularly egregious situations. When you see very large jury verdicts for wrongful death, they often involve punitive damages.

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Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

You must assert your wrongful death claim within a certain amount of time after your loved one’s death. In Tennessee and Kentucky, that timeline is just one year. In Indiana, you have two years. Although a year may seem like a long time at first, you may not be emotionally ready to pursue a wrongful death claim until the clock has almost winded down on your claim.

Asserting a wrongful death claim can be difficult because the case often dives into your personal life in a unique way. The other side will question whether you had a good relationship with your spouse, for example. They will also question whether your loved one would have made any significant amount of money during their lifetime. These can all be very sensitive subjects when you have just lost someone that you care about deeply.

The attorneys at Hughes & Coleman understand what you are going through. Although asserting a wrongful death claim may be difficult, you often need to press through to get you and your family the compensation that you deserve for your loss. In some cases, if you were counting on the income of a loved one, the loss can hit you financially as well as emotionally. If you would like compassionate yet aggressive representation after the loss of a loved one, call 800-800-4600 to discuss your legal options.

Get In Touch Today!

We offer free consultations 24/7 and there will always be someone here to take your call. Call our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation or fill out this form and we will contact you.

We serve clients across Tennessee and Kentucky and we have several offices throughout both states. See all of our locations and contact us today.

Kentucky Locations


BOWLING GREEN

1256 Campbell Ln #201

Bowling Green, KY 42104

Phone: (270) 782-6000

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ELIZABETHTOWN

2110 N Dixie Hwy #102

Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Phone: (270) 737-0640

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LOUISVILLE POPLAR LEVEL

5004 Poplar Level Rd

Louisville, KY 40219

Phone: (502) 585-4025

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LOUISVILLE DIXIE

3618 Dixie Hwy

Louisville, KY 40216

Phone: (502) 585-4693

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LEXINGTON

211 E New Circle Rd

Lexington, KY 40505

Phone: (859) 260-1722

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Tennessee Locations


NASHVILLE

446 James Robertson Pkwy #100

Nashville, TN 37219

Phone: (615) 255-9100

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MURFREESBORO

1501 Memorial Blvd

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Phone: (615) 907-0687

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CLARKSVILLE

323 N Riverside Dr #100

Clarksville, TN 37040

Phone: (931) 546-7200

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COLUMBIA

622 W 7th St

Columbia, TN 38401

Phone: (931) 505-7040

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GALLATIN

126 W Eastland Ave

Gallatin, TN 37066

Phone: (615) 451-4288

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