Justice Clicks Here: How to Find the Best Wrongful Death Lawyer Online

Have you lost a loved one in a preventable accident? Losing a loved one has never been easy, especially when their death is the result of someone else’s negligence. 

We understand it could be a devastating experience. This is where the term “Wrongful Death” comes in. 

When this horrible experience completely shatters you, it’s equally vital to think practically and keep the emotions aside. Also, learn about Hire a Lawyer in this guide.

When you are in a stable state, you may need to consult a wrongful death attorney to establish justice and get the compensation you deserve. 

Thorough research comes into play. There are possibilities that one may get overwhelmed with the choices available online. 

Such attorneys possess powers to guide sufferers and navigate through the legal process. Also, learn about Platforms To Hire A Lawyer with this guide.

Read on to learn more about wrongful death, how to find a wrongful death attorney online, things to keep in mind when looking out for them, etc. 

Aspects of Your Online Research: How to Find the Right Wrongful Death Attorney

When conducting online research, several aspects need to be addressed. Some of them are as follows:

Online Investigation

Online searching must be a starting point for investigating wrongful death lawyers. 

For that, you can enter keywords like “ best wrongful death lawyer” or “ wrongful death attorney” on your browser and inspect the search results closely. 

Do You know?:
According to the American Bar Association’s 2020 ABA Profile of the Legal Profession, for every 1,000 residents in the US, there are only four lawyers.
However, meaning there are currently about 1.3 million lawyers in the US.

Determine the difference, since some search results might be sponsored posts or lists. These sponsor posts appear on the top because attorneys pay to rank higher in a directory. 

The best way is to take a pen and paper, browse each attorney’s website, know about them, read their biographies, examine case results, client testimonials, and note their names for further investigation. 

Doing this will help you to gauge their expertise.

Know Who Can File a Claim?

Since a person who passed away cannot sue on their behalf. Now the question arises who can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit? Or who is eligible to file a claim?

Typically, it depends on the jurisdiction. But, those who can make this type of claim generally include

• Surviving spouses.
• Parents or children of the deceased.
• Other immediate family members who were financially supported by the deceased.
• A personal representative of the deceased person’s estate.

The exact facts for who can make a claim are determined by the state where the fatal incident took place.

Study About Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Be it a motor vehicle crash or a construction accident of your loved ones. In case, if another party’s negligence was the reason, the defendant may owe you compensation. 

But what kind of compensation will you get? You get compensation for the following:

• Funeral and burial costs.
• Loss of services.
• Loss of inheritance.
• Pain and suffering endured by your loved one before their death.
• Medical bills incurred while the deceased was alive related to the accident.
• Loss of the deceased’s lifetime income.
• Loss of companionship or loss of consortium.

Other than that, an attorney will educate individuals to identify any additional damages you can recover.

Use Online Directories and Review Platforms

Online directories consist of an extensive database. Along with the list of skilled attorneys, you can find about their law firms too. This could be their profiles, practice areas, contact details, and client reviews.

Interesting Fact:
In 2022, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) recorded 3,046 medical malpractice payments for wrongful death claims. 
The numbers stated that just 5% of deaths caused by medical errors lead to settlement payouts.

Reviews help to judge and make an informed decision based on the reputation, competence of professionals, and their dedication to ensuring legal obligations are met. 

Keep this in mind, when these directors come in handy, it’s decisive to conduct thorough research on your own and ensure they are the right fit for your specific case.

Understand Their Fee Structure

Knowing fee structure must be an important consideration, especially when dealing with legal obligations for the first time. 

Many attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning their fees are contingent upon winning the case or maybe after a successful settlement. 

Most importantly, enquire about any additional costs because attorneys may ask for court filing fees, expert witness fees, or investigation costs.

Also, see if there is a scope for negotiation before committing to legal representation.

What Should You Ask a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

Once you have gone through thorough research and end up picking the lawyer whom you find suitable for your case. 

Conduct a meeting online to at least know a bit about him/her. But, what would you ask? Consider asking the questions mentioned below:

• Why do you take wrongful death cases?
• Can you provide references from past clients?
• Have you worked on and won similar cases to mine?
• What is your communication policy?
• Do you favor trying my case before a judge and jury?
• Will my case go to trial, and are you prepared for trial?
• How will you keep me updated on my case’s progress?

Statistics:
In 2016, the United States reported 231,991 injury-related deaths, 68,995 poisoning-related deaths, 38,748 motor vehicle accident-related deaths, 38,658 firearm-related deaths, 44,965 suicide deaths, and 63,632 drug overdose deaths. 

• How long do you expect my case to take?
• Would mediation and settlement bring a faster resolve?
• Will you be working directly on my case or be supervising junior attorneys? Or Who will be handling my case?
• How much will your services cost?
• How will you determine the value of my case?
• What is your experience handling wrongful death cases?

Among these questions, one of the most decisive aspects is finances which should be discussed freely at your initial meeting.

Tips for Finding the Best Wrongful Death Lawyer Online

Now that you have the list of attorneys or firms you want to know more about, it’s your call to pick out the best.  For that, follow these tips:

• Schedule consultations
• Verify their standing with the state bar association
• Assess the attorney’s experience
• Inquire about their fee structure
• Review their track record and client testimonials
• Consider their communication style and approach
• Ask the right questions
• Consider their availability and responsiveness
• Know when to trust your gut
• Finalize your decision

To Wrap Up  

Admitting the fact, the loss of loved ones leave individuals in an unfathomable grief. But, stabilizing oneself and pursue justice for the departed soul’s representatives.

Someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions should not be ignored. Instead, it’s mandatory to introduce culprits with the legal system. 

Wrongful death attorneys stand ready to help. For that, you need to determine and select a skilled and experienced lawyer with tenacity to help you hold the responsible parties accountable. 

However, reading this article can be helpful since we have included some concerns regarding wrongful death attorneys. 

Remember to research on your own, ask the right questions, and trust your instincts.