Louisville Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a tragedy no family should endure. Your Louisville wrongful death lawyer with The Law Offices of Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. has spent decades fighting for grieving families, securing over $500 million in compensation for those who have suffered unimaginable loss.

Contact a Louisville personal injury lawyer today to find out how we can help you seek justice for your loved one.

What Compensation is Available After a Wrongful Death?

Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct can leave you facing emotional devastation and financial hardships. If your family relied on the deceased for income, support, or companionship, you may be entitled to compensation for the financial and emotional losses you have suffered.

A wrongful death claim allows you to seek damages that cover both economic and non-economic impacts. Compensation in a wrongful death case may include:

• Medical expenses – Covers the cost of medical care your loved one received for their catastrophic injury before passing, including hospital stays, surgeries, and emergency treatment.
• Funeral and burial costs – Helps pay for funeral services, cremation, or burial expenses to ease the financial burden on your family.
• Loss of financial support – If the deceased was the primary income earner, compensation may cover lost wages and the future earnings they would have provided.
• Loss of benefits and inheritance – Includes pension plans, retirement savings, and other benefits that your loved one would have left to surviving family members.
• Loss of companionship and emotional support – Recognizes the pain of losing a spouse, parent, or child, providing compensation for the emotional suffering caused by their absence.
• Loss of household services – Accounts for the value of childcare, home maintenance, and other contributions the deceased provided for the family.
• Pain and suffering of the deceased before passing – If your loved one suffered physically or emotionally before their death, compensation may be awarded for their pre-death pain and suffering.

The amount of compensation available depends on the circumstances of the wrongful death, the victim’s financial contributions, and the impact on surviving family members. While no amount of money can replace your loved one, securing compensation can help ease the financial stress of their passing.

What are Wrongful Death Lawsuits?

If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, reckless actions, or intentional harm, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Kentucky. State law allows the personal representative of the deceased’s estate to pursue a claim on behalf of surviving family members. This legal action can help you recover financial losses and hold the responsible party accountable for your loved one’s death.

Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 411.130, a wrongful death claim may be filed if the deceased would have had the right to sue had they survived. This applies to fatal car accidents, medical malpractice, workplace incidents, and other acts of negligence. While only the estate’s personal representative can file the lawsuit, any damages recovered are distributed to the deceased’s surviving family members according to Kentucky law.

Kentucky law also allows for punitive damages in wrongful death cases where the defendant’s actions were especially reckless or intentional. Filing a lawsuit can help your family recover financial compensation and seek justice for your loved one’s preventable death.

Do I Have a Wrongful Death Claim?

If you lost a loved one in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, reckless actions, or intentional misconduct, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. These claims allow surviving family members to seek financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and the emotional toll of losing a loved one.

To pursue a wrongful death claim in Kentucky, you must prove that another party’s actions directly caused the death and that surviving family members have suffered damages as a result.

Kentucky law requires that the personal representative of the deceased’s estate files the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the surviving family, as outlined in the official statute. If successful, compensation is distributed to the deceased’s spouse, children, or other dependents according to state law.

A wrongful death claim can be filed for fatal car accidents, workplace incidents, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, or any situation where negligence led to a preventable death.

Wrongful Death Laws in Kentucky

Kentucky has specific laws that govern wrongful death claims, determining who can file, what damages may be recovered, and how compensation is distributed. The legal statute outlines the legal requirements for filing a wrongful death lawsuit and establishes who may be held responsible for damages.

Under this law, a wrongful death claim may be filed if the deceased would have had the right to sue had they survived. This means the claim must show that the at-fault party acted negligently, recklessly, or intentionally in a way that led to the death. If the claim is successful, compensation may be awarded for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages, and the emotional suffering of surviving family members.

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you have a limited time to take legal action. Kentucky law sets a strict deadline for filing a wrongful death lawsuit, and missing this deadline could prevent you from recovering compensation. It is important to understand how much time you have and what steps you need to take to protect your claim.

Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 413.180, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate must file a wrongful death lawsuit within one year of being appointed as administrator. If no estate is opened, the claim must be filed within two years from the date of death. Waiting too long to take action could mean losing your right to seek damages for funeral expenses, lost income, and emotional suffering.

Reach Out to a Wrongful Death Attorney in Louisville

A wrongful death claim can provide financial relief for funeral costs, loss of income, and emotional suffering. Your Louisville wrongful death attorney from Gary C. Johnson Attorneys at Law, P.S.C. is ready to stand by your side and help you pursue the justice your family deserves.

Take the first step toward holding the responsible party accountable today when you fill out our convenient contact form or call our office to schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation.