If you recently lost a loved one in an accident in Las Vegas, NV, you may have the right to recover compensation for your tragic loss. A Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer can help your family through this difficult time. At J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the tools to help you maximize your family’s settlement or verdict.
Our lawyers have more than 40 years of experience helping grieving families like yours. We’ve already won hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Those responsible for your loved one’s death may owe you compensation for lost financial support, medical bills, and more. Contact our law offices in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 702-996-4786 to learn more about your legal options today and how our Las Vegas wrongful death attorneys can help.
How J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Family Recover Compensation After Losing a Loved One in Las Vegas
Money can’t take away your family’s pain or bring your loved one back. However, recovering compensation is often the only way most families can seek justice after a tragic loss in Las Vegas, NV.
While you focus on healing, our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will be fighting to help you recover the full compensation you deserve. Since we started our law firm back in 2005, we’ve earned a reputation for successfully standing up to the insurance companies that are trying to downplay your family’s loss.
When we take your case, our Las Vegas wrongful death lawyers will:
- Investigate to determine what happened and who was responsible
- Identify all sources of compensation
- Hire experts in medicine, finance, and other specialties as we build your case
- Defend against allegations that your loved one caused their own death
- Handle all paperwork and insurance communications
- Negotiate aggressively to reach a fair settlement deal
- File a lawsuit and fight for justice in court if necessary
Do you have questions about your legal rights after losing a loved one? Call us today to speak with an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who can help.
What is Wrongful Death in Las Vegas?
Under Nevada law, a wrongful death is defined as any death caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another party. If the victim would have survived, they would have been entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. Because the victim’s injuries were fatal, the right to sue for damages transfers to their surviving heirs.
Wrongful death cases are civil actions. Most of the time, they’re based on accidents. If your case is successful, your family walks away with financial compensation from the at-fault party.
The responsible party may or may not face criminal charges. Criminal matters are completely separate from your wrongful death claim.
Our Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorneys Handle All Types of Fatal Accident Cases
You may have a valid wrongful death case if you lost a loved one because of someone else’s actions or omissions.
At J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of wrongful death claims, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists
- Trucking accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Accidents in hotels or casinos
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Swimming pool accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Defective products
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Exposure to toxic substances
Your family has suffered an incredible loss. You deserve to have a lawyer by your side who you can trust. At J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how to help your family get the justice you need to move forward. Contact our law firm in Las Vegas today to discuss the details of your case.
What Is My Las Vegas Wrongful Death Case Worth?
It’s natural to wonder how much your case might be worth.
The value of a wrongful death claim depends on many things, including:
- The victim’s age and life expectancy at the time of death
- The amount of medical expenses incurred prior to death
- The identity of the victim’s surviving dependents, such as a spouse or children
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- The victim’s earning capacity, considering work history and education
- How the loss of your loved one has changed your life
Having an experienced lawyer review your case is the only way to really know whether an insurance settlement offer is fair. Experienced lawyers have seen cases like yours before and know how to determine how much you really deserve.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Las Vegas?
A wrongful death case can be filed by the decedent’s heirs, personal representative, or, most likely, both. The types of damages that are available depend on the identity of the parties filing the lawsuit.
Surviving heirs can seek compensation for:
- Loss of probable financial support
- Grief and sorrow
- Loss of the victim’s companionship, society, and comfort
- Loss of consortium
- The victim’s pain, suffering or disfigurement
The personal representative can seek compensation for any costs incurred because of the victim’s death, including:
- Medical expenses incurred between the date of injury and the date of death
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Estate administration expenses
The victim’s estate can also recover punitive damages that the victim would have been entitled to receive had they lived long enough to file a personal injury lawsuit. Punitive damages, while rare, punish defendants for intentional wrongdoing or extremely reckless behavior.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyer?
The bills can start to add up quickly after the death of a loved one. Your family may already be faced with sky-high medical costs and funeral expenses–in addition to everyday expenses. Worrying about how to pay a lawyer is the last thing we want.
Like most personal injury law firms, we operate on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you agree to pay a set percentage of your settlement or verdict. That percentage is usually around 33%, but we’ll discuss the details in your free case review so you know what to expect.
What Happens to My Family’s Right to Compensation if My Loved One is Being Blamed For Their Own Death?
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence law with a 51% bar to recovery. Your family can recover compensation if your loved one shared some blame, as long as their share of fault does not reach 51%. Your compensation award is reduced in proportion to their share of fault.
Once their share of fault reaches 51%, you’re barred from recovering any compensation at all.
Trying to blame the victim is a common strategy for insurance companies and defense attorneys. That’s especially true in fatal accident cases where the decedent isn’t around to defend themselves. At J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how to protect you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can prevent blame games from reducing your compensation award.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation for Wrongful Death in Nevada?
The answer to this question depends on the circumstances of your loved one’s death. Most wrongful death claims are based on negligence.
To prove negligence, you must prove that:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty through some type of act or omission
- The breach of duty directly caused your loved one’s death
- Your family suffered damages as a result
In the end, you’ll need evidence to prove that someone else was responsible. You may already have some important pieces of evidence. Accident reports and medical records can contain critical information. Other types of evidence can be more difficult to locate.
Our lawyers will work to locate any available evidence, such as:
- Police reports
- Cell phone records
- Video footage
- Data from an accident scene
- Inspection and maintenance reports
- Hiring records
- Vehicle recording devices
- Toxicology reports
The exact types of evidence that will be most valuable will depend on the facts of your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After the Loss of a Loved One in Nevada?
In wrongful death cases, the victim’s survivors have two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year statute of limitations starts to run on the date of your loved one’s death. That date can be later than the date of the initial accident or injury.
Two years probably seems like a long time. In reality, that time can fly by–especially when you’re grieving the loss of a loved one. It’s also important to remember that your lawyers should begin investigating as soon as possible. The longer they wait, the more likely it is that evidence will disappear, and witnesses will forget important details.
Contact a Las Vegas Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
The loss of a loved one in Las Vegas, NV, is a shocking and traumatic event. If someone else was responsible, you deserve to hold them accountable. At J. Cogburn Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll use the full weight of our experience to help your family win every penny you deserve. All you have to do is call today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer.
