What Are My Legal Actions if a Loved One Has Passed in an Accident?
If you’ve lost a loved one to someone else’s negligence, the path forward toward healing is especially difficult. While nothing can return your loved one to you or restore what you once had, obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled can help you cope with your financial losses and move forward on your journey toward healing. An experienced South Carolina wrongful death attorney is on your side.
Wrongful Death in the State of South Carolina
If your loved one died as a result of another party’s negligence, the executor or representative of their will can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of their survivors. If they had no will or named no executor, the court will assign the role. There are many kinds of accidents that are closely associated with wrongful death claims, including:
- Traffic accidents of every kind, including car, truck, pedestrian, bike, motorcycle, and rideshare accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog attacks
Supporting the Survivors
Wrongful death claims are designed to support the survivors of the person who lost their life – or the decedent. In the State of South Carolina, these survivors are identified as the following:
- The decedent’s surviving spouse
- The decedent’s surviving children
- The decedent’s surviving parents
When there are no survivors who qualify in the above categories, the administrator of the decedent’s will can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the person’s surviving heirs – as determined by the state’s laws of inheritance.
Compensation Sought
In South Carolina, you can seek the following types of compensation in a wrongful death claim:
- The cost of your loved one’s funeral and burial
- The cost of your loved one’s medical expenses that were incurred prior to succumbing to the fatal injury
- The loss of financial support you’ve experienced as a result
- The emotional pain and suffering you’re forced to endure
- The loss you experience in relation to your loved one’s personal guidance and judgment
While there is no way to adequately assess and address the full scope of your losses, it’s important to carefully calculate each category of loss – in support of a hopeful future.
The Statute of Limitations
Every state puts a time limit – or statute of limitations – on how long a claimant has to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party in a wrongful death case, and in South Carolina, it’s a mere three years from the time of your loved one’s death. The sorrow and confusion you experience in the aftermath of such an experience can interfere with your ability to take legal action – reaching out to a compassionate wrongful death attorney sooner rather than later is always advised.
Turn to an Experienced South Carolina Wrongful Death Attorney for the Help You Need
Craig Brown at The Law Office of D. Craig Brown is a practiced South Carolina wrongful death attorney who recognizes just how difficult your situation is and will spare no effort to help you obtain fair compensation in the face of your immense loss. Learn more by contacting us online or calling 843-676-0169 today.
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