
You can seek compassionate legal care if you lose a loved one due to someone else’s actions in Columbia, South Carolina. Our team at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, LLC, can step in to help you build a claim while seeking compensation to cover your family’s financial losses.
A Columbia wrongful death attorney can answer your questions and help you understand the legal codes in South Carolina. Find out more about how your family can move forward and pursue compensation to cover your loved one’s losses during a free consultation.
Can Your Family File a Wrongful Death Claim in Columbia?
The state of South Carolina allows you to file a wrongful death claim if you lost a member of your family. However, you only have a chance to pursue this legal action if someone else caused the loss of a loved one due to reckless or negligent behavior.
Our team can assess your situation to see if you can proceed with a wrongful death claim. We have experience handling these cases for clients in your situation. You may need a personal injury lawyer if you lost a loved one in a:
- Motor vehicle accident
- Workplace accident
- Medical malpractice accident
We also provide legal representation if you lose a family member because of a defective product. In addition, we can step in to assist in cases involving nursing home abuse and other forms of mistreatment.
Who Can File Wrongful Death Claims in Columbia?
It’s important to note that South Carolina does not allow family members to directly file wrongful death claims. Under S.C. Code § 15-51-20, the state requires the administrator or executor of your loved one’s estate to file a claim on their behalf.
Your loved one may name an executor in their will. If your family member did not list an executor, the court may assign someone to perform this role for your family.
Note that just because the executor files the claim, it does not mean they receive compensation from the legal action. Generally, family members receive damages from these claims. In Columbia, you may secure funds if you lost your:
- Spouse
- Child
- Parent
You may also receive compensation as the heir of the deceased. Find out more by contacting a Columbia wrongful death lawyer today.
What Compensation Can Your Family Receive in Columbia?
After filing a wrongful death claim, your family may receive compensation to cover the losses associated with the fatal accident. A Columbia wrongful death attorney can build your claim, helping you secure funds to address your loved one’s:
- Healthcare costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earnings
- Funeral and burial expenses
In addition to these costs, your lawyer may sometimes secure punitive damages during a wrongful death claim. Punitive damages act as a way to punish the individual who caused the accident.
How Much Compensation Can You Secure for a Wrongful Death Accident?
Many families end up facing incredibly high bills after the loss of a loved one. We understand the stress you can feel as you try to figure out how to cover these expenses.
A wrongful death claim can help you address the financial burden left behind by a deadly accident. However, these claims do not all provide the same amount of compensation.
A wrongful death lawyer can assess your family’s specific losses, constructing a claim to meet your needs. Find out more by contacting us.
Services Offered by Columbia Wrongful Death Attorneys
Our team provides comprehensive help to your family after losing a loved one. We offer:
Answers to Your Legal Questions
We understand that you may not know what to do next after a deadly accident in Columbia. That’s why we’re ready to let you draw on our legal experience and knowledge. We believe in responsive communication with straightforward answers for our clients.
Investigative Services
Our team digs into the causes of wrongful death accidents in Columbia. We have the resources to interview witnesses, review the scene of the accident, and even get copies of the police report.
We work with experts to determine who caused the accident and to gather evidence to build a claim for your family.
Help with Insurance Agents
Insurance agents often try to limit the compensation your family receives through a wrongful death claim. Fortunately, a wrongful death lawyer can step in to handle communication with insurance representatives on your behalf.
Assistance Resolving Your Claim
You have several options for handling wrongful death claims in Columbia. Sometimes, lawyers recommend settling with insurance agents. In other situations, you may want to file a lawsuit and take the claim to court.
You can turn to us for assistance today. We let our results speak for themselves.
How Long Do You Have to File a Columbia Wrongful Death Claim?
South Carolina has a statute of limitations for wrongful death claims under S.C. Code § 15-3-530(6). According to this portion of the legal code, you typically have three years to file a claim with the insurance company after losing a loved one.
If you wait too long to move forward, the statute of limitations can expire, making it more difficult for you to pursue compensation.
Columbia wrongful death attorneys can take steps to keep your claim on track. We focus on all vital deadlines for your claim and keep you up-to-date about our progress as we address your legal concerns.
Speak to a Columbia Wrongful Death Attorney Today
You can work with our team at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, LLC, to move forward after losing a loved one. We provide support for members of your family as we build a legal claim to help you secure compensation.
You can find out more by contacting a Columbia wrongful death lawyer. Call us or fill out our online contact form to learn more.