The worst news of a person’s life often comes completely out of the blue on an otherwise normal day. There are few things worse than the sudden death of a loved one. To add insult to injury, the death of a loved one was caused by the negligent actions of a person or third party. In such situations, the family of the loved one may choose to seek a civil action for the death of their loved one related to a negligent car accident in Louisiana.
In order to bring a successful wrongful death action in Louisiana and elsewhere, the following elements must be present. First, there must be the death of a human being that was caused by another’s negligence or with intent to cause harm. Next, due to this incident, the surviving family members suffer monetary injury. Last, there needs to be an appointment of a personal representative for the decedent’s estate.
Car accidents that have resulted in the unexpected death of a loved one come with expenses. Expenses like medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and other expenses related to a loved one’s unexpected death. These expenses could be recuperated if the car accident occurred due to negligent driving behavior of another. A full investigation and the correct understanding of how Louisiana law affects the situation could help prove a wrongful death claim.
As troubling as this situation is for you, do not hesitate to take action to write the wrongs caused to your family. The potential proceeds recouped from a wrongful death suit can make a huge difference for families who have lost a loved one. It may seem like a lot to undertake after such a sudden life event. However, the process long-term is well worth the while.
Source: injury.findlaw.com, “Wrongful Death Overview,” Accessed Dec. 21, 2015