Losing a person you love is always devastating, but when that loss comes as a result of negligence or wrongful actions, the pain can be even more overwhelming. In these difficult times, it's crucial to understand your rights and the steps you can take to obtain justice for wrongful death accident in Milwaukee. The compassionate wrongful death lawyers at Hupy and Abraham can guide you through the important actions to consider after a wrongful death.
Table of Contents
- 9 Essential Steps to Take After Losing Your Loved One Due to Someone's Negligence or Reckless Actions
- 1. Seek Emotional Support
- 2. Understand What’s Considered a Wrongful Death
- 3. Secure Important Documents
- 4. Contact an Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney
- 5. Determine Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim
- 6. Stay Mindful of the Statute of Limitations
- 7. Document Your Financial Losses
- 8. Use Caution When Dealing with Insurance Companies
- 9. Prepare for the Legal Process
- Contact Our Proven Wrongful Death Lawyers in Milwaukee for Assistance
9 Essential Steps to Take After Losing Your Loved One Due to Someone's Negligence or Reckless Actions
This is an extremely stressful time, and no amount of money can ever fully compensate for such a tragic wrongful death accident in Milwaukee. However, we understand that your financial concerns are real—you have to find ways to cover medical bills related to final days, pay for funeral arrangements, and potentially replace lost income.
At Hupy and Abraham, we have helped thousands of families just like yours establish the grounds for wrongful death claims that help you find some sense of justice and financial restitution.
Find the recommended legal steps to navigate the process effectively as given below:
1. Seek Emotional Support
Before exploring your legal options, it's essential to take care of yourself. Your emotional well-being should be a top priority. Grief is overwhelming, and it's important to have a support system in place. Consider reaching out to family members, close friends, grief counselors, support groups for those who have lost loved ones, or religious or spiritual communities.
2. Understand What’s Considered a Wrongful Death
A wrongful death occurs when someone dies due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of another party. Common causes include:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Criminal acts
3. Secure Important Documents
Gather all relevant documents related to your loved one's death. These may include:
- Death certificate
- Medical records
- Police report
- Insurance policies
- Employment records
- Financial statements
These documents are essential evidence for insurance claims and legal proceedings.
4. Contact an Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney
Before you file a claim, it’s important to know more about case works and how to protect your wrongful death claim. When you hire a skilled wrongful death attorney at Hupy and Abraham, we’ll do the following:
- Evaluate the circumstances of your loved one's death.
- Determine if you have a valid wrongful death claim.
- Identify all potentially liable parties.
- Establish a settlement that covers all economic and non-economic losses.
- Guide you through complex legal procedures.
- Negotiate with insurance companies.
- Represent you in court if necessary.
5. Determine Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim
Your lawyer also identifies who has the legal right to file a claim in your specific case. Eligible parties may include:
- Surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Siblings
- Other dependents
6. Stay Mindful of the Statute of Limitations
Each state has a specific timeframe, known as the statute of limitations, within which a wrongful death claim must be filed. According to Wisconsin law, you have two or three years from the date of the incident that resulted in your loved one’s wrongful death to file a lawsuit. The amount of time depends on the cause of your loved one’s death.
While this may seem like a lot of time, it’s not, as these cases require extensive preparation and communication to complete. We work with you to act promptly to preserve evidence and file the case within the required timeframe so you don’t lose the right to recover compensation.
7. Document Your Financial Losses
Keep detailed records of all expenses and financial impacts related to your loved one's death. We frequently achieve wrongful death settlements for our clients that include:
- Medical expenses related to the deceased's final injury or illness
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost wages and benefits the deceased would have earned
- Loss of companionship and emotional support
- Pain and suffering of the surviving family members
8. Use Caution When Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies may contact you shortly after your loved one's death. While their adjusters may seem sympathetic, remember that their primary goal is to minimize financial liability. Be cautious about:
- Giving recorded statements
- Signing any documents
- Accepting early settlement offers
Direct all communication with insurance companies through your attorney to protect your rights and ensure fair treatment.
9. Prepare for the Legal Process
If your case goes to court, be prepared for a potentially lengthy process. Our Milwaukee wrongful death lawyer will guide you through:
- Filing the lawsuit.
- The discovery phase, where both sides gather evidence.
- Possible settlement negotiations.
- Trial preparation.
- The trial itself, if a settlement isn't reached.
Seeking justice through a wrongful death claim isn’t about putting a price on your loved one's life. It's about holding negligent parties accountable and securing your family's future in the wake of a devastating loss. At Hupy and Abraham, we understand the tragedy of wrongful death and fight to ensure proper justice and compensation.
- For example, we had clients who lost their loved one in a work accident where he was working on a machine that was negligently started. For his family, we secured a $250,000 settlement.
- We secured a $3.5 million settlement for the family of a motorcycle rider who was killed when a motorist recklessly hit him after pulling away from a stop sign.
Check our case results to learn more about the wrongful death cases that we have settled for our Midwest clients. As A. Merkel, states, “I am beyond thankful for everything you guys were able to do. Took one of the worst days of my life and made it feel like I had a helping hand to get through it.”
Contact Our Proven Wrongful Death Lawyers in Milwaukee for Assistance
If you lost a loved one due to negligence, you may be entitled to a settlement. Contact our experienced Milwaukee wrongful death lawyers at Hupy and Abraham to get the compensation you deserve. Schedule an appointment to have your case evaluated by one of our experienced attorneys—please fill out our convenient online contact form or call us at 800-800-5678.