Losing a loved one to a wrongful death is something that no one should ever have to experience. While the loss of someone so dear to you can be hard to cope with, it is also important to seek compensation for someone else’s cost is reckless or negligent behavior.
When the cost of a funeral alone can be thousands of dollars, it is important to avoid making any mistakes during your compensation claim. Here are five mistakes to avoid while pursuing the compensation you deserve after losing your loved one:
Talking about the wrongful death to the public
Saying too much to the wrong person can jeopardize how much compensation you receive for their passing and possibly even eliminate or compensation entirely. Anything that you say to friends, family, or even news reporters can be used as leverage against you in your compensation claim.
Taking the first settlement offer
It is very common for insurance companies to offer the decedent’s loved ones a lowball offer as their first settlement offer. You have the right to negotiate for compensation that more accurately reflects the total cost of losing your loved one, which is why you should never accept the first offer.
Taking too much time to initiate your claim
While it is certainly understandable for loved ones to wait some time before initiating a claim after losing a loved one, taking too much time can be problematic. If you exceed the statute of limitations, you will not be able to file a claim against the liable party for your loved one’s death. An experienced attorney can handle most of the work in your claim for you, so you do not have to relive the trauma of your loss again.
Not considering all liable parties
If you do not fully consider everyone who may be liable for your loved one’s death, you may miss out on the compensation that you deserve. For example, if an uber driver struck your loved one with their car, your initial instinct might be to sue the driver. The reality is that you may have a stronger case against their employer, and you may also be able to get more money from them than you would from the driver alone.
Not getting an attorney
Insurance companies often tell people that lawyers only make matters more complicated and delay how much you receive from your compensation. The reality is that your attorney may be one of the only people you can trust to fight for the compensation you need to recover from the loss of your loved one. Let them handle your negotiations and provide you the guidance you need to avoid these or other critical mistakes in your wrongful death claim.