Ballwin Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful death is a category of personal injury claims meant to compensate close surviving family members for the economic and emotional consequences of untimely death. When the circumstances of a family member’s death were such that they could have filed a personal injury claim had they survived their injury, your family may be able to obtain compensation and a sense of justice through a wrongful death claim. Call Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law to learn more about how an attorney can represent your family in a wrongful death claim in Ballwin.

Why Select Miller & Hine for Your Ballwin Wrongful Death Law Firm?

Miller & Hine has over 50 years of combined legal experience to put behind your wrongful death claim, with the following advantages on your side:

• An attorney dedicated to personalizing a strategy to obtain the full and fair compensation your family deserves
• An assertive investigation to compile evidence, followed by evidence-backed negotiations for a settlement
• A trial-ready attorney preparing your case as though for trial throughout the process to ensure a well-executed legal strategy should the insurance company wrongfully deny or undervalue your wrongful death claim

A free consultation and contingency-based payment allow us to work for you at no cost until after we’ve recovered compensation for your family.

What are the Causes of Wrongful Death in Ballwin?

When someone else’s careless, reckless, or wrongful behavior has devastating consequences for your family by causing a loved one’s death, you can give your loved one back their voice for justice through a wrongful death claim. The most common causes of wrongful death claims in Missouri include the following:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian/bicycle accidents
• E-scooter or e-bike accidents
• Boating accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Train accidents
• Bus accidents
• Workplace fatalities
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home neglect/abuse
• Premises liability cases, such as pool accidents, apartment fires, and negligent security
• Acts of violence

Every person owes a duty of care to those around them, requiring them to take reasonable measures to avoid causing injury or death. When one party breaches their duty of care, and it causes someone’s death, the responsible party is liable for the family’s damages. A wrongful death lawsuit in Ballwin proceeds independently of any criminal charges related to the death.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim In Missouri?

Under Missouri RSMo § 537.080, the following people may file a wrongful death claim for their economic losses after an accident or wrongdoing causes a family member’s death:

• A spouse
• A parent
• An adult child

If the decedent leaves none of the above surviving family members, then a sibling may file a wrongful death claim. Otherwise, the court may appoint a representative to file a claim, and then the decedent’s will or the state’s intestacy laws for inheritance determine the distribution of the settlement or court award.

What Can My Family Recover Through a Wrongful Death Case In Ballwin?

No one likes to consider the financial impacts of a loved one’s death, but a sudden loss has economic consequences for families as well as emotional ones, especially if the decedent was a family provider. While no legal process can return a loved one, a wrongful death claim recovers compensation for the following damages:

• Medical expenses for care received before the death
• Funeral and burial costs (reasonable funeral costs in Missouri average over $8,000)
• Loss of income for a close family member who takes time away from work following the death
• Lost income for the remaining working years the decedent would have had left to them had they not died
• Loss of household services
• Compensation for the decedent’s pain and suffering before their death

If someone else’s egregious wrongdoing caused the death, punitive damages may be available. This is a financial award to the claimant that serves as a punishment and deterrent for the wrongdoer.

Call the Ballwin Wrongful Death Law Firm of Miller & Hine

No one should have to navigate a complex and emotional legal process while also dealing with grief and mourning for a loved one. Instead, contact Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law to represent you in a crucial compensation claim for your loved one’s wrongful death.