Your loved one shouldn’t have experienced negligence that led to their untimely death. In their wake, you might be feeling vulnerable and uncertain how to move forward. At the same time as your emotional turmoil, you could be facing very real financial struggles from the medical bills leading up to their death, or their loss of income for your family.
Losing a loved one in an accident is hard on so many fronts. That’s why hiring an El Dorado wrongful death lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. is a great option for getting the justice you need. We can handle the legal side of things while your family deals with grieving.
Who Can File for Wrongful Death in Arkansas?
One of your first thoughts after your loved one dies from someone else’s negligent actions is likely about holding them accountable for what they’ve done. If they hadn’t made the mistake that they made, your family member might still be here. Taking legal action is one way to do that. But in Arkansas, you’ll need to know who can legally file a wrongful death claim for their deceased loved one.
According to Arkansas Code, a personal representative is who would bring forth a claim for the deceased person against the negligent party. If there isn’t a personal representative, then a beneficiary would be responsible for bringing a legal claim within three years of the wrongful death.
In terms of beneficiaries, the state laws recognize the surviving spouse, children, parents, or siblings. They also recognize people standing in loco parentis for the deceased, or people the deceased was standing in loco parentis for as beneficiaries as well.
It’s important to know if you are eligible to file a claim for the death of your loved one so that you’re not wasting time trying to take legal action. If you’re not sure if you fall into one of these categories, or you’re not sure if you’re operating within the statute of limitations, then a lawyer can answer your questions.
One of our El Dorado, AR wrongful death lawyers from McMath Woods P.A. will listen to your questions and answer them as best as possible. We have experience with these cases so we will be able to tell you if you’re within the timeline or if you’re a party able to bring a claim forward on your deceased loved one’s behalf.
What Situations Can Lead to Wrongful Death?
When a serious accident happens that leads to catastrophic injuries, the victims of those accidents could lose their lives. Any kind of negligent action can lead to a wrongful death when there is a heavy or dangerous object involved. Here are some of the situations that attorneys most often see as the causes of a wrongful death in El Dorado:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents. Collisions involving different kinds of motor vehicles can be serious because of the weight, speed, and size of all of the vehicles involved. Whether it was a car or truck that caused the crash, or if your loved one was on a motorcycle when they were hit, all of these can cause severe injuries and even death from the impact.
- Pedestrian Accidents. Maybe your family member wasn’t in a vehicle and was walking on the street or riding their bike when they were struck and killed. Since they don’t have the protection that a vehicle affords, they can easily suffer from fatal injuries when they are in a collision.
- Medical Malpractice. Sometimes your loved one’s doctors who were supposed to care for them are the ones who end up harming them. When a medical professional makes a mistake, it can prove fatal for their patient.
- Nursing Home Abuse. Your elderly family member who was in a long-term care facility might experience abuse and mistreatment from the people who are responsible for caring for them. Since they are older and more vulnerable, this abuse could lead to their passing.
- Slip and Falls. Property owners are responsible for keeping their premises safe. When they don’t do this, a person who is rightfully on their property could slip and fall. While these injuries could be mild, if the victim hits their head or suffers from another serious injury, they could lose their life.
- On-the-Job Accidents. When an employer or coworker is negligent, that can lead to an injury while on the job. If the accident is serious enough, it could lead to an employee dying from their injuries.
Any of the above situations could warrant you to take legal action against the negligent party who caused the death of your loved one. However, if you don’t see what happened to your family member on this list, you could still have a wrongful death claim. One of our El Dorado, AR wrongful death lawyers is here to help you determine if you have a case.
We’ll look into what happened and calculate what you’re owed in damages so that you can have peace of mind with your case. Your deceased loved one deserves justice. That’s why McMath Woods P.A. is here to help.
Our El Dorado, AR Wrongful Death Lawyer Is Here for You
You and your family are grieving the wrongful passing of your loved one. Even though you’re focusing on the funeral and healing from the pain their death has caused you, you might be wondering how you can get justice for your family member. With the help of an El Dorado, AR wrongful death lawyer, you can hold the negligent party accountable for their actions that caused the death of your loved one.
At McMath Woods P.A., we understand how difficult this time is for you and your family. You shouldn’t have to worry about the details of your case. Our experienced lawyers will take care of the legal side of things so that you can focus on your emotional healing. Reach out to our office today so that we can get started on your claim and getting you justice.
