Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a devastating experience. During such a difficult time, working with a compassionate Glenwood Springs wrongful death lawyer can help you seek justice and find a path toward recovery. Families often face overwhelming emotional pain and financial challenges after a wrongful death. When a person dies because of another party’s careless or intentional actions, their surviving family members may have the right to file a wrongful death claim.
At Veritas Injury Lawyers, our compassionate personal injury attorneys guide families through every step of this complex and emotional process. Our goal is to pursue justice for your loss and obtain fair compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and emotional suffering.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim arises when a person’s death is caused by the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another party. This legal action allows surviving family members to seek compensation for their losses.
Under Colorado law, the deceased person’s spouse, children, or designated beneficiaries can file a wrongful death claim. If no immediate family exists, the parents of the deceased may also pursue the claim.
Wrongful death cases often result from preventable accidents and mistakes.
Common causes include:
- Car crashes
- Trucking collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Careless workplace accidents
What Are Your Rights in a Wrongful Death Incident?
Under Colorado law, the deceased person’s spouse typically has priority in a wrongful death claim. They have one year to file their claim following the incident. After one year, the children of the deceased may file a claim.
If the deceased had no spouse or children, their parents may pursue legal action.
Generally, claimants must file their case within two years from the date of the death. Failing to act within this period often results in losing the right to pursue compensation. Exceptions to this timeline may occur in certain circumstances, such as when the death results from a crime.
Pursuing Compensation
Families can seek compensation to address both financial and emotional losses. Funeral and burial expenses, for instance, can place a financial strain on the family, but compensation helps alleviate this burden during a difficult time.
Families can also pursue damages for lost income. These damages recover the financial contributions of their loved one, helping maintain stability.
Furthermore, families can seek compensation for the loss of companionship and emotional support they’ve experienced.
By seeking financial compensation, families gain essential resources to cover ongoing expenses like utility bills or childcare. Financial damages help to maintain daily life. Emotional damages serve as recognition of the immeasurable grief and loss they experience.
Ultimately, pursuing compensation allows families to secure support. Doing so gives them breathing room. It allows them to rebuild their future and find stability in the face of a profound loss.
