Many accidents, especially on major roadways, involve multiple vehicles. When a multi-person crash leads to a death, you might be wondering if you can pursue a claim on behalf of your family for the loss of your loved one.
Just like a personal injury claim, the one who is at fault for the crash can be held liable for the damages. When more than one vehicle is involved, there might be more than one person at fault. While not everyone is liable for the crash, an investigation can determine who is responsible for what ensued.
Law enforcement will investigate the crash, your insurance company will assign an investigator to determine the details of the accident, and then, you need to get a wrongful death attorney to help you file a claim for wrongful death after a multi-person accident.
Damages Pursued in a Wrongful Death Claim After a Multi-Person Accident
The family is affected financially as well as emotionally when a loved one dies. When you pursue a claim for wrongful death after a multi-person accident, you can request compensation for specific damages.
For a wrongful death claim, these damages usually fall into two different categories.
The first category involves the timeline from the time of the negligent act that led to the crash to the actual death of the victim. These damages include medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs.
The next category is the timeline from the death of the accident victim to when he or she would have retired at the regular expected age. Some states have a law that allow a claim for loss of companionship and love, which is loss of consortium.
The Role of Negligence in a Multi-Person Accident
When a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim is filed, negligence must be proven. There are four elements of negligence.
The first element is to show the other party had a duty. All drivers have a duty or a responsibility to drive safely and adhere to traffic laws.
Next, you must prove that duty was breached. As an example, a driver was intoxicated and had poor judgment and coordination.
Third, you must show that breach of duty caused a crash. As an example, the poor coordination and judgment caused a driver to rear-end one car then his car bounced off and sideswiped another vehicle setting the crash into play.
Then lastly, you must show that the injuries and damages resulted from that crash. If you can prove negligence, you can have a successful claim for wrongful death after a multi-person accident.
Consult with a Wrongful Death Attorney
If your family member died after a multi-person accident, you should consult with a wrongful death lawyer. These attorneys work on a contingency basis, so there is nothing to lose. There is a strict timeframe in which to pursue a claim, so don’t wait until it is too late.
If you are interested in pursuing a claim for wrongful death after a multi-person accident, get your free case review from a wrongful death attorney today!
