Greenville Wrongful Death Lawyer
Have you lost a loved one due to another person or company’s negligence?
Losing a loved one is painful enough. But when a loved one’s death is caused by the negligence of another person or party, it can be heartwrenching. Nothing can take away your grief. But you and your family may find comfort in seeking justice and compensation through a wrongful death claim. A Greenville wrongful death lawyer from Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers can help guide you through the legal process.
The Greenville wrongful death lawyers at Riddle & Brantley have been fighting for justice for North Carolinians for over three decades. We have experience serving clients in the Greenville area and would love to help you if we can.
There is no obligation and if you decide to hire us to represent you, you will only pay attorney fees if we win your case and recover financial compensation for you.
Please call or complete the short form below for a free consultation.
The loss of a loved one can be life-changing and traumatic. We understand what you’re going through and if your loss is due to another person or company’s negligence, we would love to help you fight for justice.
What is a Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim is a legal action brought by the surviving family members or the estate of a person who has died due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another party. In Greenville, North Carolina, and throughout the state, wrongful death claims are governed by the North Carolina Wrongful Death Act.
Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths
Our wrongful death lawyers help clients throughout North Carolina pursue justice for loved ones who have passed away due to all types of injuries and illnesses, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck and tractor-trailer accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle and moped accidents
- Slip and fall injuries
- Cancer associated with exposure to dangerous chemicals and substances
- Illness and injury associated with defective medical devices such as breast implants and hernia mesh
- Cancer caused by dangerous drugs such as Zantac, Truvada or Valsartan
- Mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure
- Injury associated with defective and dangerous consumer products (product liability cases)
- And many more…
If your loved one passed away due to any of these or another type of injury or illness caused by another’s negligence, our wrongful death lawyers may be able to help
The consultation is free and you’ll only pay attorney fees if we successfully recover financial compensation for your loss.
Please call Riddle & Brantley today at (252) 397-8620 for a free case review and consultation.
We have offices in Greenville and can offer in-person consultations by appointment only. If it’s more convenient, we can even come to you.
Do I Have Grounds to Bring a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Negligence is the foundation of most personal injury claims, including wrongful death lawsuits. In legal terms, negligence refers to a person’s failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would use in similar circumstances. When someone’s negligence causes harm or death to another person, they may be held liable for the resulting damages.
To have a successful wrongful death lawsuit based on negligence, the plaintiff (the deceased’s estate or family) must establish four key elements:
- Duty of Care: The plaintiff must show that the defendant owed a legal duty of care to the wrongful death victim. This means the defendant had a responsibility to act in a manner that would not cause harm to others. For example, drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic laws.
- Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty of care by acting or failing to act in a way that a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances. For instance, if a driver was texting while driving and caused a fatal accident, they would have breached their duty of care.
- Causation: The plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused the deceased’s death. In other words, the death would not have occurred if not for the defendant’s negligent actions. This element can be further divided into two sub-elements:
Cause-in-fact: The defendant’s actions were a substantial factor in bringing about the death.
Proximate cause: The death was a foreseeable consequence of the defendant’s negligence.
- Damages: The plaintiff must show that the deceased’s death resulted in quantifiable damages, such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship. These damages serve as the basis for the compensation the plaintiff seeks in the wrongful death lawsuit.
If all four elements of negligence are established, the plaintiff has a strong case for a successful wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced wrongful death attorney at Riddle & Brantley can help families gather evidence and build a compelling case to secure the compensation they deserve during this challenging time.
Wrongful Death Compensation
In a wrongful death action, surviving family members may be entitled to various forms of compensation for the losses they have suffered due to their loved one’s untimely death. The specific damages available may vary depending on the circumstances of the case. In North Carolina, the following types of compensation may be available in a wrongful death claim:
- Medical expenses related to the deceased’s final injury or illness
- Funeral expenses
- Lost income and benefits the deceased would have earned had they lived
- Loss of the deceased’s services, protection, care, and assistance
- Pain and suffering of the deceased before their death
- Loss of the deceased’s companionship, guidance, and support
- Loss of consortium (the loss of a spouse’s companionship, affection, and sexual relationship)
In rare cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious or malicious, the court may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
The amount of compensation awarded in a wrongful death case depends on various factors, such as the deceased’s age, earning capacity, and the circumstances surrounding their death.
In North Carolina, the total amount of damages is distributed among the deceased’s beneficiaries according to the state’s intestate succession laws, which govern how assets are divided when a person dies without a will.
A Greenville wrongful death attorney at Riddle & Brantley has extensive experience in evaluating and pursuing wrongful death claims, ensuring that surviving family members receive the maximum compensation they are entitled to under the law
Why Choose the Greenville Wrongful Death Attorneys at Riddle & Brantley?
At Riddle & Brantley, we pride ourselves on treating our clients like family. When you hire us to represent you in your wrongful death case, you’ll be represented by a compassionate attorney and supported by a team of case managers and paralegals dedicated to getting you justice.
In more than three decades serving North Carolinians, we have secured many five-, six-, and even seven-figure settlements and judgments on behalf of those who have lost loved ones due to others’ negligence.
Our recent case results include:
- $9,450,000 | Wrongful Death, Tractor-Trailer Accident — Riddle & Brantley attorneys fought for justice for the surviving loved ones of a family of four who were killed in a major tractor-trailer accident on a busy North Carolina highway. We led a comprehensive accident investigation, bringing in reconstruction experts and even subpoenaing traffic data from Google Maps to prove our case. Through extensive mediation with multiple insurance companies, we secured more than $9 million for the surviving family members.
- $3,000,000 | Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Negligence — Our client contracted a disease due to improper handling of a medical device by nursing home staff and ultimately passed away as a result. Riddle & Brantley’s wrongful death attorneys took the case and investigated the circumstances of the accident, ultimately obtaining a $3 million judgment for the victim’s family in Superior Court.
- $2,000,000 | Wrongful Death, Car, and Truck Accident — When a woman ultimately succumbed from injuries sustained in a car crash involving an 18-wheeler, we fought for justice for her surviving sons. We hired experts to prove liability in the case and ultimately were able to secure $2 million in total compensation and justice for the victim and her family.
***Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.
Of course, our record of verdicts and settlements in wrongful death cases is just one measure of our success. We are also proud of the words our deserving clients use to describe their experience working with Riddle & Brantley attorneys and staff:
“They turned a heartbreaking situation completely around.”
-Tonya Taylor
There is no obligation and the consultation is 100% free.
If we don’t successfully resolve your case and recover financial compensation for you, there are no attorney fees, either.
Please call (252) 397-8620 or complete the short form below to request a free consultation with a wrongful death attorney.
A Greenville Wrongful Death Lawyer with Experience in Greenville, NC
Wrongful death claims can be emotionally exhausting, complicated, and time-consuming.
You don’t have to go through this alone.
We understand what you’re going through and have the compassion and experience to help you get the justice you and the deceased deserve.
An experienced wrongful death lawyer can help manage all aspects of your case, including:
- Investigating the circumstances of the accident, injury, or illness and proving liability
- Hiring expert witnesses, including accident reconstruction experts in auto accident cases
- Identifying and interviewing potential witnesses
- Collecting and preserving important case evidence
- Gathering and evaluating important medical records
- Negotiating with the insurance company
- Negotiating with defense counsel
- Filing a lawsuit in district or federal court
- Obtaining sworn statements and conducting depositions
- Representing you in mediation and/or arbitration proceedings
- Drafting and filing legal briefs and other court documents
- Ensuring that you meet the Statute of Limitations and other important deadlines
- Arguing your case at trial before a judge or jury
- Engaging in pre-trial negotiations
- And much, much more…
“They made a hard time in my life easier to endure.”
-Melissa C.
Contact a Greenville Wrongful Death Lawyer at Riddle & Brantley Today
We believe Justice Counts and are committed to holding those whose negligence results in death accountable.
We fight tirelessly for surviving families and would love to help you get justice if we can.
Please call (252) 397-8620 for a free consultation and case review.
Justice Counts.