Coping with the death of someone you love can be a difficult process to go through. The need to get justice for a loved one’s wrongful death can be strong and propelling, but you might not know how to navigate the legal system to achieve that.
If your loved one’s death occurred in the Bay St. Louis area as a result of a negligent, reckless, or intentionally wrongful act or omission, let a wrongful death lawyer help. Our legal team can gather supporting evidence and offer representation as you pursue an action against the liable party or parties who caused your loved one’s death. Call (228) 357-9621 for a free case evaluation today.
How to Know if Your Case Qualifies for a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Like personal injury cases, wrongful death cases generally involve taking civil action against a negligent, reckless, and/or intentionally malicious party. However, the main difference between personal injury cases and wrongful death cases is the role the plaintiff plays in the case.
Wrongful death is a broad category of litigation that may include:
- Motor vehicle accident cases
- Slip and fall or trip and fall cases
- Premises liability cases, or incidents that led to a person’s death on public or private property
- Strict product liability cases, or incidents where the use of a product led to a person’s death
- Maritime cases, such as boating accident cases
- Nursing home abuse and neglect cases
- Medical malpractice cases
If you are unsure whether your case qualifies for a wrongful death lawsuit, reach out to the Morris Bart law office for a free case review. We can help you determine your options for compensation should you decide to file a claim or lawsuit.
Individuals Who Qualify to File a Wrongful Death Suit
According to Mississippi Code §11-7-13, specific surviving family members are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one. These individuals are:
- The decedent’s spouse
- The decedent’s child
- The decedent’s parent
- The decedent’s sibling
- The decedent’s personal representative
The statute also details the process for dividing damages among surviving family members. For more information about how this might affect your case, contact the Morris Bart law office for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a Wrongful Death lawyer serving Bay St. Louis, call 800-537-8185
Types of Compensation You Can Receive in a Wrongful Death Case
If you qualify to file a wrongful death case, you may be entitled to receive compensation for:
- Costs for funeral and burial services to lay your loved one to rest
- Costs for cremation services
- Costs for medical care your loved one received up to their final moments
- Loss of financial support from your loved one, both current and future expected losses
- Loss of emotional support from your loved one
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
Other damages not listed here, such as property damage, may be suggested, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Call the Morris Bart law office at (228) 357-9621 to have a team member review your situation in a free case evaluation. We can help you determine whether your relationship to the decedent qualifies you to claim compensation on their behalf.
There Is a Deadline in Which to File Your Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Wrongful death lawsuits have specific deadlines tied to them that determine how long a plaintiff has to claim compensation for their loved one’s death. This deadline is set by the statute of limitations and begins on the date of confirmed death.
According to Mississippi Code §15-1-49, you generally have three years to file a civil action lawsuit against a liable party for the wrongful death of your loved one. If there were multiple parties involved, you might have to file separate lawsuits against each party. Your lawyer can review your case to determine this for you.
Failure to file on time might subject your case to being dismissed if the opposing party discovers you filed late. It would be within their right to contest this action and request that the judge dismiss your lawsuit, meaning you would not be able to compel the opposing party to pay compensation.
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Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer from Morris Bart, LTD Today
If your loved one’s death was caused by negligence and could have been avoided, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue compensation for damages. Contact the Morris Bart law office for a free consultation at (228) 357-9621 to speak with an attorney at our Bay St. Louis location.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
