Losing a loved one in a car accident is shocking. It can leave your family grieving and financially unmoored. You may be entitled to financial compensation from the driver or other party who caused the accident, but seeking compensation may feel daunting at such a difficult time. Our Fort Mill fatal car accident lawyer with Schiller & Hamilton can help you seek damages for medical expenses, loss of income, and other losses.
Potential Damages After a Fort Mill Fatal Car Accident
The intent of wrongful death damages is to compensate the surviving family members for the full loss of their loved one, although no monetary payment can truly make up for the loss of a beloved family member. These damages should compensate you for the bills associated with the accident, the loss of financial support, and the loss of your relationship.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Medical bills for the care your loved one received before he or she passed away
- Burial and funeral expenses, such as cremation or embalming fees, the cost of a casket or urn, and the expense of a memorial service
- Loss of financial support for the wages, tips, salary, and benefits that your loved one would have provided
- Loss of a family relationship, such as the care, companionship, knowledge, judgment, and protection that your loved one would have provided
- Pain and suffering experienced by surviving family members because of this death
Who Can Seek Wrongful Death Damages After a Fort Mill Fatal Car Accident?
Only certain relatives can seek wrongful death damages if their loved one died in a Fort Mill fatal car accident. S.C. Ann. § 15-51-20 specifies that the spouse and children, including illegitimate children, of the deceased can seek damages after a fatal car accident. If the deceased had no spouse or children, then their parents can seek damages. The heirs of the deceased can seek damages if there are no children, parents, or a spouse.
You may have questions about just who can seek damages if your family member passed away in a fatal car accident in Fort Mill. Our lawyer with Schiller & Hamilton can review your situation, determine which family members are eligible for wrongful death damages, and assist you in moving forward with your case.
How Can a Lawyer Help After a Fatal Car Accident in Fort Mill?
Losing a family member is always difficult, but losing one unexpectedly in a car accident can be especially challenging. Our lawyer can help you with all legal and insurance aspects of your case after a fatal car accident in Fort Mill, giving you time to heal and grieve. We can:
Investigate the Fatal Car Accident
Identifying which party caused the fatal car accident is essential to your case because that party is financially responsible for your losses. Our lawyer will investigate what happened by listening to your account of the accident, interviewing eyewitnesses, gathering police reports, and collecting security and traffic camera footage, cell phone records, and toxicology reports.
Communicate with the Insurance Companies
Communicating with insurance companies can be tedious and tiresome. We can take over this dreaded task for you, handling all phone calls, emails, and other communication. We can also fill out paperwork for you, gather your medical records and other supporting documents, and submit an insurance claim on your behalf.
Estimate the Value of Your Wrongful Death Damages
Estimating the value of wrongful death damages is challenging because it is hard to put a dollar value on someone’s life. Nevertheless, it is a necessary step in getting surviving family members the support they deserve. Our lawyers have experience estimating the value of wrongful death damages and can give you a fair estimate of the compensation you deserve.
Negotiate an Out-of-Court Settlement
While we prepare each case to go to trial, we resolve many cases out of court. Trials can be lengthy and stressful, and it is often quicker and easier to settle. Our lawyer will negotiate an insurance settlement that provides you with fair compensation for your losses.
File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Our lawyer serving Fort Mill will do whatever it takes to get you the best possible outcome for your fatal car accident case. A wrongful death lawsuit may be the best route to securing your rightful damages. We can file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you in court.
We Offer Free Case Evaluations for Fatal Car Accident Cases in Fort Mill
If you have never worked with a lawyer before, you may be unsure of how to proceed legally after losing your relative in a fatal car accident in Fort Mill. Our lawyers offer free case evaluations, which gives you a chance to meet us before moving ahead in your legal proceedings.
You can tell us about the fatal car accident, and we can give you our honest assessment of your case. If we think your case has a good chance of success and you feel comfortable working with us, we can work together to seek damages from the at-fault driver and their insurance provider. We will only collect a fee if we win your case, so you have nothing to lose by working with us.
File Your Fatal Car Accident Lawsuit Before Time Runs Out
The death of your loved one will leave a void in your life forever, but you do not have forever to sue the party responsible for their death. S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530 sets the statute of limitations for wrongful death at three years, which means you have three years from the date your loved one passed away to file a lawsuit for wrongful death.
For wrongful death cases, the clock for the statute of limitations starts on the date that your loved one passed away. This date may or may not be the same as the date of the car accident. Our lawyer with Schiller and Hamilton can establish a timeline of events, determine how this law affects your case, and make sure that you file your wrongful death lawsuit before time runs out.
Let Schiller & Hamilton Represent You After a Fort Mill Fatal Car Accident
Our attorney with Schiller & Hamilton is ready to help you in the difficult time after a fatal car accident in Fort Mill. Money can never bring your loved one back, but fair compensation for your loss can allow you to grieve and heal without worrying about your financial security. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.