Reno
Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one is devastating, especially when you know the loss could’ve been prevented. If you lost a family member due to someone else’s negligence, a Nevada wrongful death lawyer can help you pursue compensation.

The lawyers at Sweet James have over 25 years of experience helping accident victims and their families. If you lost a loved one in a preventable accident, a Reno wrongful death lawyer can help you take legal action and seek compensation.

How a Reno Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help

Pursuing a wrongful death claim can be stressful, especially while grieving the loss of a loved one.

A wrongful death lawyer serving Reno can help by:

• Investigating the incident: An attorney can examine police reports, medical records, and other evidence to determine how the death occurred and who may be responsible.
• Calculating your family’s damages: A lawyer can help your family’s relevant financial and personal losses get incorporated into your claim.
• Handling conversations with insurers: An attorney can handle conversations with insurers and work to seek a settlement on your behalf.
• Providing legal representation: If litigation becomes necessary, a lawyer can serve as your family’s advocate in court.

What Types of Compensation Can Be Recovered?

Families pursuing a wrongful death claim may be able to pursue several types of damages, including:

• Funeral and burial expenses: You can seek the costs associated with funeral services, cremation or burial, and related end-of-life expenses.
• Medical bills: You can pursue compensation for the medical treatment your loved one received between the time of injury and the time of death.
• Lost income and benefits: You can ask for the financial support the deceased person would likely have provided in the future, including wages, retirement benefits, and other contributions.
• Loss of companionship: You can pursue damages for the emotional loss of a spouse, parent, or close family member.
• Loss of guidance and support: Children may be entitled to seek compensation for the loss of parental care, advice, and emotional support.

A wrongful death lawyer can help make sure your claim includes all of your documented losses.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Nevada?

Under Nevada law, the following parties can bring a wrongful death claim:

• Surviving spouses: A spouse may seek compensation for the financial and emotional losses resulting from the death of their partner.
• Children of the deceased: Children may pursue damages related to the loss of financial support, parental guidance, and companionship they suffered.
• Parents: Parents may have the right to file a wrongful death claim if their child dies because of another party’s negligence.
• The personal representative of the estate: A representative may file a claim on behalf of the deceased person’s estate.

Wrongful death claims sometimes involve more than one claimant, depending on the family’s circumstances. A personal injury lawyer can assess your case and determine whether you may be eligible to file a claim.

What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Nevada?

Under NRS 11.190, wrongful death claims in Nevada generally must be filed within two years of the date of the person’s death. If a lawsuit is not filed within this time period, the court can dismiss your case, and your family may lose the opportunity to recover compensation.

While two years may seem like a long time, building a wrongful death case takes significant preparation. Evidence must be collected, witnesses may need to be interviewed, and legal filings must be completed correctly. A Reno fatal accident lawyer can help your family file promptly.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death Cases

Wrongful death claims can arise from a wide variety of accidents.

Some of the most common causes of wrongful death include:

• Motor vehicle accidents: If a negligent driver contributed to your loved one’s death, you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim.
• Medical malpractice: Surgical mistakes, misdiagnoses, delayed treatment, or mistakes with medication can sometimes have fatal complications.
• Workplace accidents: Dangerous job environments, particularly in industries like construction or manufacturing, often cause fatal injuries.
• Defective products: Faulty vehicles, dangerous machinery, or poorly designed consumer products may cause fatal injuries.
• Unsafe premises: Property owners who fail to address hazardous conditions or provide adequate security may be held responsible if someone suffers fatal injuries.

A Reno personal injury lawyer can investigate your loved one’s death and identify who may be responsible.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit filed when someone dies as a result of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct. Unlike criminal charges, which are pursued by the state to punish wrongdoing, wrongful death claims are brought by family members seeking financial recovery.

A case may proceed even if the responsible party is not charged with a crime.

To succeed in a wrongful death case, the plaintiff generally must show that the defendant’s actions directly caused the death.

Consult a Wrongful Death Attorney Serving Reno

The loss of a family member can lead to serious financial hardship, but you don’t have to deal with the aftermath alone. A Reno wrongful death attorney from Sweet James can assist with your case and work to seek compensation.

Schedule a free case review to learn more.