When a motor vehicle accident takes the life of an innocent person, certain survivors may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim against the party at fault. The Law Office of Paul Hogan LLC developed this wrongful death webpage to provide information for those who have lost a loved one due to another person's recklessness or negligent behavior.

While you are grieving, it may be difficult to think about monetary considerations and the future. However, these are inevitable realities that you must address to protect yourself and your family. By filing a wrongful death claim, you may be able to recover compensation for the deceased's medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of their companionship. You can also sue the party at fault for the loss of the financial support of the deceased. The attorneys at The Law Office of Paul Hogan, LLC have represented many families who have suffered the devastating wrongful death of a loved one. We work closely and compassionately with our clients to evaluate their case and determine whether negotiation of a settlement or a trial is in their client's best interests. We are committed to ensuring that our clients' see justice work for their loved ones so wrongfully taken from them. At The Law Office of Paul Hogan LLC, we believe that achieving justice on behalf of the victims of personal injury is the highest and best expression of the art of practicing law.

A wrongful death claim against the negligent party is generally initiated by or on behalf of the spouse, children or family of the decedent; however in some unique situations, a party other than the deceased's immediate family may be entitled to recover damages if they relied upon the deceased for support. Negligence must be proven in wrongful death cases and the attorneys at The Law Office of Paul Hogan, LLC are skilled in proving the four critical components of negligence necessary to win a damage award in wrongful death claim:

1. The defendant had a duty to the deceased,
2. The defendant failed in that duty (breach of duty),
3. That the fatality was caused by the defendant's breach of duty, and
4. That the survivors are entitled to damages as a result of the loss of their loved one. 

In addition to proving negligence, the joint life expectancy of the deceased and the survivor or beneficiary must be presented (to establish the loss of future earnings), and the relationship of the survivor and deceased must also be shown. Finally, effective presentation of the non-economical or emotional loss suffered by the survivor is critical to a fair award of damages. The amount of damages awarded will depend on the plaintiff's relationship to the deceased.