Richmond Wrongful Death Lawyer

If your loved one lost their life due to the negligent actions of another person, company, or entity in the Richmond, Kentucky, area, you should seek out legal assistance as soon as possible. These claims are challenging, but an experienced Richmond wrongful death lawyer can help you through this. At Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., we want to help your family through this difficult time by providing peace of mind as we work to hold the at-fault party accountable. 

Why Turn To Our Richmond Wrongful Death Lawyers for Help?

• At Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., our team will take the time to listen to your story. We understand you are grieving, and we want to offer compassionate solutions.
• Our team has an extensive track record of success in securing compensation for families and estates of those who have lost their lives due to the negligence of others.
• Our injury lawyers in Richmond have the resources needed to conduct a complete investigation into the incident that led to the loss of your loved one, and we have no problem taking your case to trial if necessary.

How Wrongful Death Claims Arise in Richmond

Kentucky law defines a wrongful death as a death that results “from an injury inflicted by the negligence or wrongful act of another.” These types of incidents can arise in a wide variety of ways throughout the Richmond area, and our team has extensive experience handling the following types of injury and wrongful death claims on behalf of clients:

• Car accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective product claims
• Premises liability (property owner negligence)

If you have any questions about whether or not you have a valid wrongful death claim, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our team for a free consultation. 

Wrongful Death Compensation In Richmond 

A successful wrongful death claim could result in various types of compensation going to survivors and the estate of the deceased. This includes a range of economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Any medical expenses arising after the incident but before the death of the deceased
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided throughout their lifetime
• Compensation for future services the deceased would have provided
• Compensation for pain and suffering experienced by the victim after the incident but before their death
• Loss of companionship, care, love, and support the deceased provided loved ones

The total amount of compensation available in these situations will vary depending on specific factors related to your particular case. 

Who Can Receive Compensation In A Richmond Wrongful Death Claim?

Kentucky law specifies who can receive compensation should a wrongful death claim be successful, and this includes:

• In cases where the deceased has a surviving spouse but no children, the spouse inherits everything.
• If there’s both a surviving spouse and children, they equally divide the awarded damages.
• When only children survive, without a spouse, they inherit the full amount.
• If no spouse or children are alive, the deceased’s parents are the next to receive the full award.
• If there is no surviving spouse, children, or parents, the estate gets the award. Any remaining funds after settling debts will go to named individuals in the will or, in the absence of a will, to legal heirs.

If a spouse wishes to receive loss of consortium damages, which includes the loss of services, assistance, companionship, and conjugal relationship with the deceased, then they have to file a separate loss of consortium claim.

Time Limit for Filing a Richmond Wrongful Death Case

Kentucky law specifies two different statutes of limitation associated with wrongful death claims. These are the overall time frames with which claimants must adhere in order to receive compensation. In Kentucky, the statutes of limitations that apply to wrongful death claims include:

• One year from the date a personal representative gets appointed to the deceased’s estate
• Two years from the date of death in the event a personal representative gets appointed more than one year after the death occurs

If the personal representative of the deceased’s estate fails to file a lawsuit within these specified time frames, the case will likely get dismissed, leaving the survivors and the estate unable to recover compensation for their losses.

Who is Allowed to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Court?

Some states allow family members of the deceased to file wrongful death claims, but that is not the case in Kentucky. In the Commonwealth, a personal representative of the deceased individual’s estate must file the claim. In the event there is no personal representative, the court will appoint someone to act as a personal representative.

There are some exceptions to this. In the event a person loses their life due to someone else using a deadly weapon, then the surviving spouse or children of the deceased are allowed to file the wrongful death claim in court. Additionally, if the deceased individual was a minor, then the child’s parents or guardians can join the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the personal representative.

Can You Afford a Wrongful Death Attorney?

The team at Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. Handles wrongful death claims in Richmond, Kentucky, on a contingency fee basis. This means that we handle all the upfront or out-of-pocket costs related to the case. Estates and family members are not responsible for any legal fees until after our team successfully recovers the compensation they need. In the event we do not win the case, our clients pay absolutely nothing.

We firmly believe that this type of payment arrangement helps family members and estates receive compensation and closure for what happened.

Call a Richmond Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

If you need to file a wrongful death claim after the loss of a loved one, turn to the team at Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. for help today. We have extensive experience handling complex wrongful death claims in Kentucky, and we have the resources needed to see your case all the way through to the end. Let our Richmond wrongful death lawyer help you by offering a completely free consultation of your claim. Fill out our contact form or calling us at (800) 337-4002.