What Family Members Can Do After Losing Someone in an Accident

Thousands of people die in crashes every year, including hundreds of fatal car accidents in Nevada according to the Office of Traffic Safety. Many of these drivers have families, who are bound to be overwhelmed by the sudden and terrible news of having lost a loved one—these people are victims of lethal accidents too, even if they weren’t caught within the collision itself. For mourning families, outlooks are good in Nevada (as well as most other states); they’ll be able to file a wrongful death case on the behalf of their missing family member to seek justice and compensation in the aftermath. 

Establishing a Wrongful Death Case

In Nevada, family members (and any other individuals who were reliant on the victim, even if not blood related), may file a wrongful death claim to be compensated for the loss of their loved one.

In order to establish a wrongful death case, you’ll need to prove three things: duty of care, breach of duty, and causation. During a car crash, duty is a given, as all motorists have a responsibility to drive safely and follow traffic laws. You’ll then have to prove that that duty was breached in some manner, or in layman’s terms, that the at-fault driver did something wrong. That breach of duty must also have directly caused the fatality—running a red light for example, by itself, does not constitute causation unless it can be linked to a resulting accident and wrongful death.

Consider a Lawsuit

Wrongful death cases frequently have large payouts, due to the severity of the loss involved and the considerable expenses a fatality can cause. Although life insurance and other simple claims can grant partial compensation, a formal suit is oftentimes necessary to help cover:

• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Medical and property damage costs from before the victim passed away.
• Lost wages from the deceased or their family members.
• Pain and suffering damages from a loss of companionship, care, and affection from the deceased.
• Punitive damages if the at-fault driver made particularly intolerable or reckless decisions.

Filing a lawsuit against an at-fault driver might invoke feelings of guilt, but regardless of whether it’s settled outside of court or not, the process of beginning a suit is essential to guarantee your recoveries. No amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, but a settlement can help their family greatly in their absence and provide a sense of closure and justice. These types of lawsuits are considered civil matters and can happen concurrently and separately from criminal investigations and charges.

Wrongful Death Lawyers Give Peace of Mind

Letting a Nevada wrongful death lawyer handle your case gives you the opportunity to mourn and spend time with your loved ones, without the burden of a complex legal process hanging over your head. We at Aaron Law Group pride ourselves on compassionate, professional care for you, your family, and your case, so please—if you’ve been lost someone to the negligence of a reckless driver, call us at (702) 550-1111 to schedule a free consultation.