When people seek the services of a wrongful death attorney, it isn’t because they see the opportunity to collect money from the responsible property. It is as a means to handle the financial crisis that is about to overcome them. If your loved one was the sole financial contributor to the family, they did so to make a better life for you and your family. In fact, providing a secure financial future for their family was probably one of their primary motivations. G. Martin Meyers explains that you need a wrongful death attorney who understands what you are going through and who will help you every step of the way.
Learn Your Options
An experienced wrongful death attorney can advise you on the events leading up to your loved one’s death and determine whether you have a legitimate legal claim. Wrongful deaths occur from many situations and they may result in immediate death or severe injury that does not claim the victim’s life immediately. For example, the person may receive a severe injury in an automobile accident that sets up infection and eventually kills them. A gunshot victim might lie in a coma for months before being declared legally dead. The important thing for the loved one to keep in mind is that they usually have two years from the date of the event that led to the individual’s death to file a wrongful death claim.
If your loved one was a primary financial contributor to the household, there are likely regular monthly bills that must be met and penalties for any that are not met on time. Car payments and insurance, mortgage payments, utility bills, and medical insurance premiums are just some of the bills that you may be facing. If you have children who need care while you work or children in school who participate in any type of activities, there are associated costs there as well. Add to this any medical and burial costs that were not covered by health and life insurance.
Preparing for the Worst
As difficult as it may be to put your financial concerns at the forefront while you are still grieving, it is important to consider what the immediate future may bring if you don’t. If your loved one required hospitalization, surgeries, and numerous treatments for their injury before they passed on, there will probably be significant medical bills. Even if they had medical insurance, copays, deductibles, maximum payouts, co-insurance, and uncovered services can add up to substantial fees.
Many people are surprised at the cost of burial today, with the average price of a funeral running between $7,000 and $10,000. A large percentage of people do not have adequate life insurance or insurance at all to cover these costs. This is especially true for those who are young and healthy and do not consider the likelihood of dying before their time.
Once all of these bills are totaled, the amount of death the deceased’s family is left facing can be beyond overwhelming. Some people lose their homes and the hopes for the children that they shared with the loved one they lost. A wrongful death attorney who has guided clients through similar situations can help take the emotional burden out of preparing for your future.
Sources:
1. https://www.parting.com/blog/funeral-costs-how-much-does-an-average-funeral-cost/
2. https://lifeinsurancepost.com/final-expense-burial-insurance/