Your Wrongful Death Advocates
Losing a loved one is never easy. But the loss can be even more difficult to handle when someone else’s carelessness caused the death of your loved one. When faced with such an emotionally devastating experience, it can be tough to handle dealing with insurance companies and all the legal processes surrounding the death as well.
At Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC we understand the overwhelming nature of wrongful death cases. Slaughter and Lupton have significant experience handling wrongful death cases including decades of litigation and courtroom experience. The Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC team is here to provide guidance and support, using both our legal expertise and empathy. We will work tirelessly to prosecute the civil wrongful death claim. It is our goal to make sure that you get the right legal advice for your permanent loss.
Here for you when you need it most.
Everyone who worked with me was professional and kind. The result of my case was better than I imagined! I highly recommend Slaughter & Lupton.
Wrongful Death Lawyers for Virginia & North Carolina
What is a Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death lawsuit asserts that an individual’s demise was a direct result of the negligence, misconduct, or legal liability of another party, whether it is an individual or business, company or corporation.
Wrongful death laws are established to provide compensation to surviving dependents or beneficiaries who are entitled to financial reparations as a result of the defendant’s actions.
Wrongful Death Causes
It’s important to know. As experienced personal injury attorneys, we want to empower you with knowledge about wrongful death cases.
Here are some just some of types of activities that may involve negligence and wrongful behavior that can lead to a death:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Tractor-Trailer Accidents
- Drunk Driver Accidents
- Product Defects
- Medical Malpractice
You Are Not Alone
We understand that losing a loved one is not just about the financial burden. It can be an emotionally draining experience that no one should ever have to go through.
This is where wrongful death claims can help. These claims aim to provide financial compensation to the family of the deceased which can help ease the burden of unexpected expenses and a lack of income from the deceased.
When to Take Action in Your Wrongful Death Case
The family members may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. A successful wrongful death claim can recover damages set out by statute for each state. It’s important to note that wrongful death laws vary by state. Both Virginia and North Carolina have specific statutes that determine who are the beneficiaries and what damages can be recovered–even the process determining who can bring the claim or lawsuit (personal representative) and who can recover (the classes of beneficiaries). The personal representative who is authorized by the court to bring the claim or lawsuit may or may not be a beneficiary of any wrongful settlement or judgment.
In North Carolina, an administrator of the estate handles not only the death claim, but all matters of the estate.
Meet Our Attorneys
Robert C. Slaughter
Attorney at Law
W. Everett Lupton
Personal Injury Attorney
David Moyer
Personal Injury Attorney
Nicole T. Sanzo
Personal Injury Attorney
What Damages are Recoverable?
For a Wrongful Death in Virginia, the law allows the beneficiaries to recover damages for:
- Sorrow
- Mental Anguish
- Solace, which may include society, companionship, comfort, guidance, “kindly offices”, and advice of the decedent
- Expenses for the medical care and treatment, including hospitalization, of the deceased from the injury resulting in their death
- Reasonable funeral expenses
If the wrongdoer’s actions were willful and wanton, the beneficiaries may recover punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and to set an example for society.
For a Wrongful Death in North Carolina, the law allows the beneficiaries to recover damages for:
- Expenses for the medical care and treatment, including hospitalization, of the deceased from the injury resulting in their death
- Pain and Suffering of the decedent
- Reasonable funeral expenses
- Present monetary value of the decedent to the persons entitled to receive damages recovered, including but not limited to compensation for:
- Net income that the deceased would have but for their death
- Services, protection, care, and assistance of the decedent to the entitled persons
- Society, companionship, comfort, guidance, “kindly offices”, and advice of decedent to entitled persons
If the wrongdoer’s actions rose to a level of willful and wanton conduct and subject to statutory limitations, punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and to set an example for society.
Don't Miss the Deadline!
If you are contemplating pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit, it’s crucial to take swift action. In both Virginia and North Carolina, the deadline for filing a lawsuit for wrongful death is two (2) years from the date of death in most cases, but there is a lot of legal work that must be done before a correct lawsuit can be filed.
Don’t wait until it is too late! To ensure that you don’t miss your chance, don’t procrastinate – act now!
What's Next?
Time is of the essence.
Wrongful death claims demand attention to detail and a delicate touch.
To avoid weakening your case, it’s crucial to get guidance from an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Our team at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC can help you navigate this process and gather the necessary evidence.
Let's Get Through This Together
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