Attorneys In Alaska For Your Wrongful Death Case

by Kristen White Blogger

Basic Information About Wrongful Death Claims

A claim for wrongful death comes about when a person dies due to the wrongful act or omission of another. These can arise out of car accidents, clip and falls, medical malpractice or other scenarios. Defendants can include any person or entity which, had it acted differently, would not have caused the decedent’s passing.

Not everyone can bring a wrongful death claim. Instead, the person suing must usual be someone who was damaged as a result of the person’s passing. This may include (i) immediate family members, (ii) life partners, financial dependents, and putative spouses, (iii) distant family members, (iv) others that suffer financially as a result of the victim’s death or (v) parents of a deceased fetus (in certain circumstances).

Most commonly, it is the spouse or child(ren) of the deceased that brings the action, as they have lost the income and services of the deceased person.

As with most personal injury claims, as stated above, the defendants are any persons or entities that may have committed an act (or failed to act) in such a way that the person’s death was caused. In the automobile accident scenario, this can include (i) the other driver, (ii) the person responsible for a dangerous roadway condition, (iii) a government agent or contractor that failed to put warning signs around a dangerous condition, (iv) persons who led to the other driver’s negligence (i.e. a bartender who served the driver drinks), (v) a mechanic that failed to maintain the car properly, (vi) the company tasked with making sure traffic lights are properly operating, etc.

Clearly, there are many defendants that can be sued in different scenarios.

Vitally important is Alaska’s “statute of limitations” that cannot be circumvented or extended. Simply, you have two years from the date of the person’s death to file the wrongful death claim, or you are prevented from receiving compensation, no matter how devastating the incident was to you.

For these reasons, it is incredibly important to find an Alaska Wrongful Death Lawyer to help prosecute your claims.

What to Look for in Your Wasilla Attorney

It is likely that the person seeking to bring a wrongful death claim will be dealing with strong emotions such as depression, loss, fear, etc. There are certain things which anyone seeking a wrongful death attorney should look for, including the following:

Experience- how many wrongful death cases has the attorney prosecuted in the past and what was his or her rate of success?

Time- does the attorney have the time to properly work up your case, or is she too busy with other high-profile matters?

Team- are there other attorneys, paralegals and support staff that will work on your case? What experience to they have?

Reputation—what do other attorneys, clients and court personnel thing of this attorney? Will they be effective with such a reputation?

Discipline—has your lawyer been reprimanded, suspended, disbarred and reinstated, etc.? Such information is typically available through the local state bar association.

At the end of the day, a referral from someone you trust is the best way to find Attorneys In Wasilla Ak to properly prosecute your claim.

So if you are suffering from the recent passing of a family member or other close relation, be sure to find a wrongful death lawyer to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Indeed, although there are more than 2,000 lawyers in Alaska, it is important to find attorneys that know the ins and outs of the wrongful death process.