Wrongful Death Lawyer in Montgomery-Alabama

Compensation for a Wrongful Death Claim

No amount of money will ever be a substitute for the support, companionship, and care that a loved one can provide. However, when someone loses their life due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts of someone else, receiving compensation can help ease the financial burdens left behind and provide for the surviving family.

A wrongful death claim also provides some measure of justice by holding financially accountable those responsible for your loved one’s death and providing some level of deterrence to help prevent a similar incident from happening to another family.

In a wrongful death claim, the decedent’s estate may be entitled to obtain financial compensation for damages such as:

• Costs of last illness/injury
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of the decedent’s expected lifetime earnings and benefits (such as insurance coverage or pension benefits)
• Loss of the value of the support and services the decedent provided to the household
• The conscious pain and suffering the decedent experienced prior to his or her death
• Loss of the decedent’s advice, guidance, or nurturing to the family
• Loss of the decedent’s affection, care, companionship, and society to the decedent’s spouse and family
• Pain and suffering (if the lawsuit started out as a personal injury case when the decedent was still alive)

In Alabama, wrongful death compensation is recoverable as punitive damages. Technically, they are meant to punish the responsible party for their conduct that caused the decedent’s death and discourage others from engaging in similar misconduct.

Other Legal Issues That May Arise after a Loved One’s Death

When a loved one that passes away due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts of another party, there may be multiple legal issues when trying to pursue a wrongful death claim:

• Creating an estate – Since Alabama law only allows the personal representative of a decedent’s estate to file a wrongful death claim, a family that wishes to pursue such a claim on behalf of their loved one must establish an estate so that a personal representative can be appointed.
• Probating a will – If your family member has a will, the document must be probated by the court to establish an estate, since a will may often name someone to serve as an executor of the decedent’s estate.
• Distributing wrongful death damages to heirs – Because any compensation for damages in a wrongful death claim are paid directly to a decedent’s estate, it will be necessary to distribute those funds to the decedent’s family members through the decedent’s estate. If the decedent died with a will, wrongful death damages will be paid according to the will’s terms. If the decedent dies without a will, damages are paid according to Alabama law.

The Montgomery wrongful death attorneys of Stokes Stemle, LLC have years of experience helping families across Alabama address these and other legal issues that arise in pursuing a wrongful death claim. Our Alabama wrongful death lawyers are ready to provide you with the advice and support that you need during the difficult time of grieving for a loved one.

Please note that a wrongful death lawsuit can go forward in civil court regardless of whether the at-fault party faces any criminal charges. Criminal and civil cases are separate matters.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death

Wrongful death can arise from any negligent, reckless, or intentional act of another. The Montgomery wrongful death attorneys at Stokes Stemle, LLC have successfully assisted Alabama families in wrongful death cases arising from many kinds of accidents and incidents.

The most common claims of wrongful death are:

These are but a few examples of the types of accidents and incidents that can lead to a wrongful death. No matter the circumstances of your loved one’s passing, our Montgomery wrongful death attorneys can enable your family to seek compensation and justice for your loved one’s death.

How Our Montgomery Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help You

Suppose you have suffered the loss of a family member due to another party or party’s negligence or intentional misconduct in Alabama. In that case, the Montgomery wrongful death attorneys of Stokes Stemle, LLC are here to help your family through this difficult time.

We’ve represented many families across Alabama as they seek the compensation and justice they deserve for their loved one’s loss. A successful claim can help the family ease the financial burden of losing a loved one and help provide some sense of justice and closure.

Contact Stokes Stemle, LLC today or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a knowledgeable and compassionate wrongful death lawyer in Montgomery about your family’s rights, options, and specific issues. There is no cost for a case review, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for your family.