Wrongful Death: Common Questions

Below, we provide answers to commonly asked questions about wrongful death:

What is a wrongful death?
Basically, a death is categorized as "wrongful" when it results from the negligent actions or recklessness of a third party.  For example, if a person caused an accident due to negligent behaviors and another person dies as a result, it would be considered a wrongful death.

Is proving negligence difficult in a wrongful death case?
Yes, proving negligence is extremely difficult.  Due to the fact that negligence must be proven in order for families to proceed with wrongful death claims, most families choose to work with a personal injury lawyer who has experience with these types of claims and cases.

What is a wrongful death claim?
A wrongful death claim is a type of legal action that is filed against a person whose negligence led to the death of another person.  Claims are filed my immediate families who wish to obtain compensation for their traumatic losses.

What damages can I receive?
If you are successful with your wrongful death claim, you may receive damages for your lost loved one's medical and funeral expenses.  You may also receive damages for your loss of companionship and pain and suffering.

For a more comprehensive list of questions and answers on this topic, we encourage you to view our Wrongful Death FAQs page.  As always, if you have questions about a wrongful death case in Raleigh, contact the Whitley Law Firm to schedule a consultation with a Raleigh personal injury attorney from our team.