Indianapolis Wrongful Death Lawyer

The loss of a loved one is always a difficult time for the family members who have been left behind. If you need help obtaining fair compensation for your loved one’s passing, contact an Indianapolis wrongful death attorney.

At a time when you should be in mourning, the last thing that should be plaguing your mind is how you will continue to survive without the financial support your relative provided for your family. Now, not only are you suffering tremendous grief, but your financial future is uncertain—something no family suffering a loss should have to endure.

One way to secure the compensation you need is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the person or people responsible for the death of your loved one. Get in touch with an experienced Indianapolis wrongful death lawyer at Kooi Law for more information on how to proceed with your case.

Can I File a Wrongful Death Suit?

A death is considered wrongful if the acts or decisions of another person caused the death to occur. For example, if a drunk driver hit your family member, thus causing your loved one’s death, you would likely be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the drunk driver. You will have two years from the date of the person’s death to file your claim, according to Indiana’s wrongful death statute of limitations.

In Indiana, the representative of the deceased individual’s estate must be the one to bring forward a wrongful death claim. However, when damages are awarded, they can be distributed among the decedent’s spouse and dependents, such as children or stepchildren. In the event that these damages need to be split among various parties, the courts may determine how they should be divided.

Individuals who will not likely be able to file a wrongful death claim in Indianapolis could include parents of the deceased (even if your child was a primary source of financial support), cousins, grandparents, and close friends. If any of these individuals were named the representative of the decedent’s estate, however, they are the only ones who will have the opportunity to bring a wrongful death claim forward.

Compensation for Wrongful Death in Indianapolis

Once we have established liability for the death of your loved one, you will be able to recover compensation for specific damages. These damages are capped at a maximum amount of $300,000 and must be paid to the representative of the estate of the person who has passed away.

You can expect to receive compensation for the funeral and burial costs of your relative. You should also recover any medical expenses relating to the care of the deceased prior to his or her death, such as hospital bills, copays, prescription medications, hospice care, and the costs of medical equipment.

In addition to collecting the costs of putting your loved one to rest and the medical expenses he or she incurred before passing, you can also be compensated for the costs of pursuing your wrongful death claim and the wages the deceased would have likely continued to earn if he or she hadn’t died, including bonuses, retirement funds, raises, and promotions.

Compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering or emotional distress are not applicable in Indianapolis wrongful death suits. In the event that the death you are filing a claim for is that of your child, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of his or her companionship and love, as well as therapeutic services to help your family through this traumatic time.

It will be the responsibility of the representative of the estate to use the awarded damages to pay for the remaining medical bills and funeral expenses. Any damages for the deceased’s lost wages may be divided equally among the decedent’s surviving children and stepchildren. The remaining damages can be used to support the spouse of the deceased or split up accordingly.

Reach Out to an Indianapolis Wrongful Death Attorney

If the blame for the death of your loved one falls on someone who acted negligently, you have a right to hold that person responsible for his or her carelessness. If you are ready to take control of this unfortunate situation and would like to begin the process of filing a wrongful death claim against the liable party, contact the qualified lawyers at Kooi Law.

You can schedule a free claim evaluation with an Indianapolis wrongful death lawyer by giving us a call at (317) 569-1335 or entering your information into the contact form we’ve provided at the bottom of this page.