Wrongful Death

The death of a friend or a loved one can be a heartbreaking and tragic experience. The feelings of loss and sadness can be made worse if this death is the result of someone else's negligence. Fortunately, there are legal means of seeking compensation for such a death. The future wages and future net worth of the deceased individual is referred to as “pecuniary damages”, and are typically calculated by determining how much money the deceased would have earned throughout his or her lifetime.

In cases of wrongful death where gross negligence has occurred, courts may also order punitive damages as a punishment to deter that type of negligence from occurring again in the future. Punitive damages are typically filed against corporations rather than individuals. However, not every state allows for punitive damages, so it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with wrongful death suits.

Certain criteria must be met for a wrongful death suit to be successful. Firstly, a death must actually occur. Secondly, this death must be the result of either malice or negligence. Proving this can sometimes be difficult, so a wrongful death lawyer should be contacted as soon as possible. Finally, monetary damages must be suffered as a result of this death, meaning that the person must have had some financial worth, future or otherwise.

Contact Us

If a friend or a loved one has wrongfully died as a result of someone else's negligence, contact Cincinnati personal injury lawyer Shawn M. Stepleton today at 513-321-7733.