Wrongful Death Lawyer St. Louis

When another person or business’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct caused your loved one’s death, then you and other family members may have the right to pursue compensation. However, an insurance settlement or court award may not be easy to come by on your own. You will need to pursue compensation, fight hard for your rights, and negotiate for a fair amount. Through all of this, you may have to go up against a business or insurer’s experienced legal team. You need a skilled and aggressive St. Louis personal injury attorney by your side to even the playing field.

At The Cagle Law Firm, we’re committed to helping those who have lost loved ones due to someone else’s actions. We’ll work tirelessly on your side to obtain compensation for your loss. Call us now to schedule a consultation.

Why You Need a St. Louis Wrongful Death Law Firm

When your spouse, parent, or child is killed in an accident, the claim and legal processes are far different than those you would deal with had your loved one been non-fatally injured in an accident. Illinois and Missouri’s wrongful death cases are very specific types of personal injury cases, and each state has different rules for determining who has a claim and the time limits that may apply. As each case is very different, the compensation also varies. You need to work with an attorney with an extensive background in wrongful death claims and knowledge of the state’s laws and court procedures where the death occurred. At The Cagle Law Firm, we have substantial experience and a history of success in Illinois and Missouri wrongful death claims.

Types of Wrongful Death Claims

Wrongful death claims can arise in a variety of tragic situations. From car crashes, such as drunk driving accidents, to construction accidents, any fatal accident that arises from another person’s carelessness, recklessness, failure to act when they should, or intentional misconduct may offer you and your family the right to pursue wrongful death damages. At The Cagle Law Firm, we have experience working with various types of wrongful death claims.

What Compensation Can You Receive for a Wrongful Death?

The unexpected loss of a parent, spouse, or child is emotionally devastating. But then, the surviving family members have to add financial loss depending on the family role. You may have relied on that person’s income to pay your normal bills or expected financial contributions and emotional support. To say the least, your life and financial health may never be the same. 

These reasons are why you should speak with a St. Louis wrongful death lawyer about pursuing compensation and what can be recovered, including:

• Medical costs
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial contributions
• Loss of care and support
• Loss of love and companionship
• Loss of inheritance that you would have received

By seeking compensation from the liable party and their insurance carrier, you have the opportunity to gain justice and the financial recovery you need to move forward. However, the compensation you are entitled to may vary depending on how the death occurred, where the death occurred, and your relationship to the deceased.

The laws and guidelines on how a wrongful death case can be brought vary from Missouri to Illinois and Kentucky. Who can receive compensation in a wrongful death claim depends on state law. The Cagle Law Firm will help determine who is eligible to receive compensation and how to go about pursuing that compensation.

The Wrongful Death Claim & Legal Process

If you want to learn more about the wrongful death process in Illinois or Missouri, contact a St. Louis wrongful death lawyer right away. Illinois and Missouri have distinct wrongful death laws, which means you face a different legal process depending on where your case is filed. The case generally has to be filed in the state in which the death occurred. To begin with, The Cagle Law Firm will help you determine who has the right to file a wrongful death claim, which varies between states and the best way to go about it.

There are also critical deadlines called “statute of limitations” to consider in wrongful death cases. In Illinois, you have two years following the date of your loved one’s death to file in the appropriate court. In Missouri, you have three years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death suit in the appropriate court. Experienced wrongful death attorneys pursue compensation in the correct court in a timely way. 

Our attorneys will examine the damages you faced due to the loss of your loved one and demand compensation accordingly. Each wrongful death is approached differently depending on how the death occurred. Every wrongful death case that is investigated often requires finding experts and reconstruction experts. This allows us to gather evidence that supports your claim that another party was negligent, causing your loved one’s death. After an initial demand is made to the defendant(s), insurance carriers for the parties may make offers for settlement. Each offer is shared with the client in consultation and advice from our attorneys. Our attorneys negotiated fiercely for the best offer through possible settlement or mediation. If a settlement is not successful or sufficient, our attorneys are not hesitant to litigate cases. While our attorneys do love to go to trial and work with the client for maximum recovery, ultimately, your case belongs to you. Our mission is always to do what is absolutely best on behalf of our clients. 

At The Cagle Law Firm, our wrongful death lawyers in St. Louis are not afraid to face major companies or insurers at trial.

Comparative Fault in Wrongful Death Claims

Your or your family’s wrongful claim may be affected by the other party’s allegation of comparative fault. For instance, the liable party may claim that your family member contributed to the accident. If they can prove that your relative was more than 50 percent at fault for the accident that caused their death, then your family may be barred from receiving compensation. If a court finds your loved one was less than 50 percent responsible, then your recovery will be diminished by the proportion of your relative’s fault. To illustrate this, if the court decides the other party is 80 percent at fault, and your loved one was 20 percent responsible, then your financial recovery will be reduced by 20 percent. If the judge or jury determined your damages amounted to $100,000, you would be rewarded $80,000.

To be clear, comparative fault can get complicated, and you absolutely should involve a wrongful death attorney to assist you in evaluating your possible claim. After the death of any loved one, investigating and trying to plan a wrongful death claim is not something anyone should do on their own.