The pain of losing a loved one in a car accident can be overwhelming, making it hard to get up in the morning, much less take care of the paperwork associated with a legal case.
If you lost a family member in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you can seek damages from the at-fault party and their insurance provider. Our Lancaster fatal car accident lawyer with Schiller & Hamilton can assist you during this difficult time, taking over the burdensome task of seeking compensation so you can take the time to grieve properly.
How Much Is a Fatal Car Accident Case in Lancaster Worth?
It’s hard to say how much one person’s life is worth because every life is precious and priceless, yet that is exactly what a personal injury lawyer must do in a fatal car accident case. Our attorney serving Lancaster will use evidence to estimate the full value of your deceased family member’s life as well as the value of your expenses related to the accident.
Here are some of the wrongful death damages you may be able to recover:
- Medical expenses: We can gather medical records and receipts to determine the cost of your loved one’s medical treatment before he or she passed away.
- Funeral and burial expenses: We can collect receipts showing the cost of embalming or cremating services, the casket or urn, and the memorial service.
- Loss of financial support: We will use past tax records, wage statements, and benefits statements to project the value of financial support that your loved one would have provided had he or she survived.
- Loss of relationships: We can estimate the value of the lost companionship, care, knowledge, protection, and judgment that your loved one would have provided to their spouse, children, and other family members
- Pain and suffering: We can estimate how much the pain and suffering experienced by surviving family members because of this loss is worth.
Our Lawyer Can Help You After a Fatal Car Accident in Lancaster
Our lawyer can guide you through the legal and insurance processes necessary to recover damages for your loved one’s wrongful death. Our Lancaster fatal car accident lawyer has years of experience handling car accident cases and working with insurance companies, so we understand the steps we need to take to get you the compensation you deserve. We can:
Investigate the Fatal Car Accident
We can come to the scene of the accident as soon as you contact us, whether that is right after the accident or in the following days or weeks. Our team has experience gathering evidence from car accident scenes and using it to figure out what happened. We may collect:
- Pictures of the scene of the accident
- Eyewitness statements
- Police reports
- Traffic and security camera footage
- Expert witness analysis
Identify the Responsible Party
The party that acted negligently and caused the accident is responsible for your losses. In many cases, the responsible party is another driver. However, in some cases, it is the municipality in charge of road design and maintenance. We will determine who is responsible and help you seek damages from them.
Determine Who Can Seek Wrongful Death Damages
S.C. Ann. § 15-51-20 specifies which relatives can seek wrongful death damages in a fatal car accident case. The spouse and children of the deceased can seek damages, and if there are none, then the parents of the deceased can seek damages. Our lawyer can help you figure out who has the legal right to compensation for your loved one’s death.
Estimate the Value of Your Losses
We can use past tax receipts, wage statements, benefits statements, medical bills, medical records, and interviews with you and your other surviving family members to estimate the value of your losses. We can use this estimate to seek appropriate compensation from the at-fault party and their insurer.
Submit an Insurance Claim for You
Our team can take care of the paperwork and supporting documents needed to submit an insurance claim. We can also speak with the insurance company on your behalf and take over any written communication.
Negotiate a Settlement
Lawsuits can drag on for months or years, leaving your family in limbo as you try to move forward in life without your loved one. Settling out of court is often the best way to resolve a fatal car accident case. Our lawyer can negotiate an insurance settlement that fairly compensates you for your losses.
Ensure You Meet Legal Deadlines
If you choose to move forward with a lawsuit, we will make sure that you sue before the legal deadline. Under S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530, you have three years from the date your loved one passed away to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
File a Lawsuit on Your Behalf
Our lawyer can file a lawsuit against the at-fault party and represent you in court.
You Can Afford a Lawyer for Your Fatal Car Accident Case
Sometimes, people assume that legal representation is too expensive, a luxury that they simply cannot afford. At Schiller & Hamilton, we believe that everyone deserves competent legal representation after a car accident, which is why we have structured our payments to be affordable for anyone and accessible to everyone.
Our Lancaster fatal car accident lawyer works on contingency, which means we only collect our legal fees when we win your case. You never have to pay anything upfront or out of pocket. In addition, we offer free case consultations, so you can meet with us and go over your case before committing to working with our team.
Contact Schiller & Hamilton Today for Legal Assistance With a Fatal Car Accident Case
A fatal car accident can leave your family with no income but facing expensive medical bills. Our lawyer with Schiller & Hamilton serving Lancaster can help you seek damages for these losses and more from the at-fault party and their insurance company. While money cannot replace your loved one, it can provide you with security at this difficult time. Contact our office so we can get started on your case.