If you have lost a loved one because of the negligent actions of someone else, you are likely to experience many feelings immediately after your loss. Sadness, shock, confusion, anger, and many other feelings are often reported by friends and families of people who have died a wrongful death. Wrongful deaths can take many forms, all of which are devastating for the family and friends of the deceased, who never expected that the person that they love so much would be torn away from them so soon. Automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents, and many other tragedies can cause wrongful deaths. Sometimes, it may feel as though there is nothing that you can do in the wake of such a tragic event. However, there may be something that you can do following a wrongful death which can help your family to recover from your loss while making the negligent actor or actors take responsibility for their actions. You could file a wrongful death action, and it would accomplish both of those things.
There are a few different people who can file a wrongful death action in Kansas, namely, the heirs at law of the victim. The victim’s spouse, children, grandchildren, and perhaps some others can join together and pursue recovery from the party or parties who caused the death of their loved one. Families take many forms in modern society, and there may also be ways for these families to pursue wrongful death actions. A Kansas City Wrongful Death Attorney can help you to determine which members of your family are eligible to file a wrongful death claim, as well as who they can file a claim against. It is not uncommon for there to be multiple defendants in wrongful death actions, especially those where both an individual and one or more business entities are involved, such as a workplace accident or an accident involving a tractor trailer.
There are a few categories of damages that family members can claim as part of their wrongful death action. Reasonable funeral expenses is one common type of damages sought, as is mental anguish. Spouses can recover for the loss of love, affection, and other things related to their marital relationship. If the deceased was a parent of young children, their family may pursue damages related to the loss of their caregiving and guidance. Depending upon who the victim was and what roles they played in their family, the types of damages there may be other types of damages that they can pursue. All of these categories of damages address the impact of the loss on the victim’s family.
If someone that you love is killed in a tragic accident and negligence is to blame, it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as you can in order to protect your rights. A Kansas Wrongful Death Attorney can help you to understand the process of pursuing a claim for damages, and what you might expect to happen along the way from start to finish. The experienced Kansas City Wrongful Death Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. help clients from throughout the region, including St. Joseph, Independence, Lees Summit, Columbia, Warrensburg, Overland Park, Olathe, Atchison, Lawrence, Topeka, and many other Kansas and Missouri communities. We offer caring and compassionate assistance to our wrongful death clients as they navigate a very difficult time in their lives. Please call us today, at (816) 472- 4673 to arrange for an initial consultation.