IT'S MORE TO US, IT'S PERSONAL
Wrongful Death LAWYER IN Knoxville: Dedicated to Obtaining Justice for Families
The unexpected death of a family member or friend can leave you without any idea of what to do next. When you’re experiencing grief after you’ve lost a loved one, it’s hard to think of anything beyond it. Take the time you need to heal and process the wrongful death, but also be diligent in getting compensation for your loss.
There may be medical bills, funeral costs, or other expenses associated with your loved one’s death that you can get as part of a settlement provided by the negligent party. Before your case reaches the statute of limitations, reach out to one of our wrongful death lawyers in Knoxville to get the legal help you need.
Am I Eligible to Claim Wrongful Death?
There are several factors that determine your eligibility in a wrongful death case. The first thing to consider is who you are to the deceased. In Knoxville, Tennessee, the right to claim wrongful death follows a chain of succession. If the decedent had a spouse, the spouse has the primary right to place the claim. If there is no spouse, the decedent’s children can file the claim. In some cases, if there are neither spouses nor children, the decedent’s parents can file for the death. Finally, in other, extenuating circumstances, the deceased’s personal representative can file the claim.
If you are one of these people, you should also consider if you are within the statute of limitations to be able to place the claim. In Knoxville, TN, this limitation happens very quickly. Surviving eligible claimants must start the process within 1 year of the wrongful death’s occurrence. Given that this timeline is so short, hardly enough time to process grief at all, we recommend hiring wrongful death attorneys to handle the wrongful death case for you. Start seeking justice for your loved one’s death today and hire a team of wrongful death lawyers through the law offices of Wettermark Keith.
What You Should Know About Wrongful Death
Behind dangerous health conditions like cancer, accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in the state of Tennessee. That makes Tennessee the eighth highest state in terms of accident-caused deaths, resulting in approximately 4,500 deaths per year. Know that wrongful death is unfortunate but not uncommon and can happen to anyone. Keep you and your family members safe, but if a wrongful death does occur, know that you’re not alone.
We’ve honored the legacy of many beloved lost family members in the past by getting their families the financial settlement they needed. Though it’s nothing in comparison to the loss of life, these settlements have gone on to have a positive impact on these families, and we want to help you, too.
What’s the Difference Between Wrongful Death and Other Types of Death?
When you start to research the legal system’s dealings with death in various forms, you’ll notice a variety of terms that are easily confused with wrongful death. The term that is mentioned alongside Knoxville wrongful death most often is a survival claim. When you make a wrongful death action, you are seeking to gain compensation for the negligent actions of another person and the subsequent financial, physical, or emotional toll it took on his or her family. However, when you make a survival claim, you are claiming damages that were brought against the deceased, almost as if the person had survived, like pain and suffering. A survival action also deals with a person’s estate or will that is left behind.
Another term you may commonly hear confused with filing a wrongful death claim is accidental death. Unlike a wrongful death, accidental deaths are not directly able to be attributed to an individual’s action or inaction. However, on the other end of the spectrum, wrongful deaths are also not murders, wherein the guilty party took direct and undeniable action to cause the murder, accidental or intentional.
Other forms of law that can result in a wrongful death lawsuit, like medical malpractice or a car accident, are not the same as, but can be included in, a wrongful death claim. These claims would entitle you to different damages and carry their own burdens of proof. The best way to navigate all of these difficult and similar legal phrases is to hire trusted Knoxville wrongful death attorneys.
Wettermark Keith: Wrongful Death Lawyers in Knoxville
Wrongful death lawyers in Knoxville can help you and the family get compensation and justice to help ease your burden during this difficult time. Let us handle your Tennessee wrongful death case for you while you focus on spending time with your family and support system. Our law firm will keep you updated about your case, and we’ll fight our hardest to get you what you need. Getting started is simple; just fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation.