One of the most tragic events that can happen in your life is having a loved one taken too early from you due to an avoidable incident. When this happens, it may feel as if all is lost and that there is no hope. You may feel as if you have no control over what happens in your life moving forward. After all, you can't bring that loved one back nor can you take control over the grief that you or any of your other relatives are feeling. While it is true that what is going on in your life at this moment in time is unfair, you do have control over one thing: deciding whether to pursue justice and filing a wrongful death claim.
Moving Forward with a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Should you decide to pursue legal action, it is important that you work with an attorney to build the strongest possible case. This is to ensure that justice is served and that you obtain the financial recovery that you deserve in such a horrific situation. It is also to ensure that your rights are fully protected. In order to do all of this, you need to do the following three things:
Preserve the Evidence
In a wrongful death case, your attorney is going to need evidence in order to pursue the claim. The evidence that will be necessary includes hospital and funeral bills, proof of income prior to your loved one's death (pay stubs or tax records), and any other potential losses that were caused as a result of the fatal accident.
Be Honest
It is also crucial that you are 100 percent honest with your attorney. While you may think that something is not important to the case, or you may think that it could hurt the case, it is vital that you tell your attorney anyway. More often than not, the opposing counsel will uncover these things and your attorney needs to be fully prepared in the event that it comes up rather than being blindsided.
Be Careful What You Say
You need to make sure that you do not talk about the wrongful death case to anyone other than your lawyer and your immediate family. You should never speak to another lawyer, the defendant or an insurance company without your attorney present or without the permission of your lawyer. You also should be very careful what you post on Facebook and other social media sites, as everyone has access – or can gain access – to your postings nowadays and what you say can come back to haunt you.
For more information on how to build a strong case, contact a wrongful death lawyer in your local area.
