Have you recently experienced the unexpected death of a family member in an accident in Raleigh, North Carolina? Don’t hesitate to call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers. You may be entitled to compensation for your loss, and our Raleigh wrongful death lawyers are ready to help you fight to maximize your recovery.
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is an award-winning (see disclaimer below) personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting for justice in the wake of tragedy. We’re highly rated North Carolina litigators who’ve taken on powerful corporations for injury victims and families and won more than $850 million in monetary awards (see disclaimer below).
Discover how we can be the difference-maker in your wrongful death case by contacting our Raleigh law office at (919) 876-3020 today. Your first case evaluation is free.
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to Help After a Family Member’s Wrongful Death in Raleigh, NC?
Having the right to file a wrongful death claim doesn’t mean that getting compensation will be easy. In fact, the insurance company will probably try to take advantage of you during this difficult time, encouraging you to give up your rights or accept way less money than you deserve. Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers are here to make sure that doesn’t happen.
At Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, we’ve been trusted by grieving families in Raleigh and across the state of North Carolina for more than 40 years.
Backed by 190+ years of combined attorney experience, we’re recognized as leaders in civil litigation by:
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Martindale-Hubbell
- The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (see disclaimer below)
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Best Attorneys in America
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and
- Other trusted organizations across the nation.
When you turn to us for help after a fatal accident in Raleigh, you’ll benefit from the compassionate, precise, and determined legal representation you deserve. Your case will also have the full support of our personal injury law firm’s considerable resources. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Raleigh wrongful death attorney.
How Do I Know if I Have a Wrongful Death Claim?
Just because an accident in Raleigh is fatal doesn’t mean the at-fault party isn’t responsible for the harm they’ve caused. While the victim might not be able to pursue a legal claim for damages, the right to take legal action can shift to another party.
You might have a wrongful death case if:
- Someone you love was killed by another party’s “wrongful act, neglect or default,” and
- Your family member would have been able to file a claim for damages on their own if they’d lived.
North Carolina’s Wrongful Death Act requires a wrongful death claim to be brought by a decedent’s personal representative. So, if you’re not the personal representative – as named in your family member’s will or as appointed by a court – you can’t file a wrongful death claim. However, you can benefit from the wrongful death action as long as you’re the victim’s surviving spouse, child, or parent.
Representing Families in All Types of Wrongful Death Cases in Raleigh
At Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, we advocate for families in wrongful death claims related to:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Boating accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
If you believe that your family member’s death could have been avoided, don’t hesitate to call our wrongful death attorneys in Raleigh, NC. We’re here to listen to your story, explain your potential legal options, and help you figure out the next steps in the wake of this tragedy. We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so call our Raleigh law office today.
How Much is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Every wrongful death case is different. A variety of factors will play a part in calculating how much your particular legal claim might be worth.
- How much did you rely on the decedent for financial support?
- Was the decedent responsible for taking care of the household, raising children, or providing other services?
- What was the nature of your relationship with the decedent?
- How old was the decedent at the time of their death?
- What was the decedent’s life expectancy before they were fatally injured?
- Is the decedent being blamed for their fatal accident?
Valuation can be tricky, so it’s important to work with an experienced North Carolina wrongful death attorney to make sure that you’re able to maximize your recovery. At BRAND, we help our clients win their personal injury cases and recover top-tier case results. Discover how we can help you maximize your wrongful death recovery by calling our Raleigh law office today.
What Damages Can Be Awarded in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Under North Carolina law, the plaintiff in a wrongful death action can request two compensatory awards: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to offset the objective financial costs and losses associated with a person’s wrongful death, and can include:
- Medical expenses related to care to revive or treat the decedent before they passed
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost wages, income, business interests, and other financial support
- Present value of the support and services provided by the decedent
- Nominal damages
Non-economic damages are awarded to acknowledge the harder-to-value trauma the decedent experienced before they died and/or the decedent’s surviving family members have suffered since their loss, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of services, protection, care, and assistance
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of advice, society, companionship, comfort, and guidance
Sometimes, punitive damages can also be awarded if a wrongful death lawsuit goes to trial in Wake County, NC. Punitive damages are permitted when a jury finds by clear and convincing evidence that a defendant acted maliciously or consciously disregarded the decedent’s safety.
What Happens if My Family Member Shares Responsibility for Their Fatal Accident?
You’ll be barred from recovering compensation. North Carolina follows a strict pure contributory negligence system. Sharing any degree of responsibility for an accident in which you’re injured or killed is a total bar to recovery. This means that your family member’s contributory fault will prevent you from recovering compensation from another at-fault party.
Insurance companies and defense attorneys won’t hesitate to try to blame your family member for their fatal accident or injuries. If their tactics work, it can stop your wrongful death claim in its tracks and prevent you from getting the compensation you may rightfully deserve if those allegations of shared fault aren’t based in truth.
Our Raleigh wrongful death attorneys will be ready to dispute these claims head-on and fight to protect your family member’s good name and your opportunity to recover a substantial monetary award (see disclaimer below).
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney in Raleigh?
You won’t have to stress about attorney fees when you hire Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers. Our wrongful death attorneys in Raleigh, NC, represent grieving families on what’s known as a contingency fee basis.
We only get paid for our hard work when we successfully negotiate a settlement or win a verdict for you at trial.
Our fees don’t come out of your pocket. Rather, they’re deducted from the monetary award we win on your behalf. Every situation is different, but the average fee for wrongful death representation ranges between 33 and 40 percent.
When Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in North Carolina?
The personal representative will have two years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit with a North Carolina state court.
The claim has to be submitted before the filing deadline passes. Once the statute of limitations runs out, your family will lose the ability to demand financial justice for your devastating loss.
Don’t worry about time limits, filing deadlines, or other procedural technicalities. Focus on grieving your loss and moving forward; trust our skilled personal injury attorneys in Raleigh to take care of the rest for you.
Contact Our Experienced Raleigh Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation
You’re struggling with an unimaginable loss because someone else was negligent. Now, it’s time to make sure they’re held accountable. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers want to help make sure you’re fully compensated for your loved one’s wrongful death.
Our Raleigh wrongful death attorneys are award-winning litigators with over 190 years of collective experience. As fierce advocates for justice, we’ve forced powerful corporations to pay our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards (see disclaimer below).
Today, we’re also ready to be your family’s most passionate legal allies. You can learn more about working with our top-rated North Carolina litigators by calling our Raleigh law office today. There’s no charge for your initial case evaluation.