Wrongful Death Claims: Your Kentucky Lawyer is Here
You need a Kentucky wrongful death lawyer at your side if a family member loses their life because of another person’s negligence. Our compassionate team at Johnson Law Firm is here for you during this difficult time. Saying goodbye to a loved one is challenging and heartbreaking under any circumstances.
It could be nearly impossible to come to terms with losing a loved one if someone else’s negligence caused it. Our Kentucky wrongful death attorneys understand that no amount of financial compensation will make up for the loss of your loved one.
We offer respectful, caring representation from an experienced wrongful death lawyer who guides grieving families through the legal process of seeking the financial compensation they deserve because of the wrongful death of a loved one.
Financial compensation can help provide for and protect a surviving spouse, children, and other family members.
Let Us Handle the Fight: Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyers in Kentucky
No one likes to think about death, but it is important to address the death of a loved one that was caused by negligence. A successful lawsuit can help families receive financial compensation and bring justice so the wrongdoer cannot cause similar tragic harm.
Our wrongful death lawyer may win the compensation that you deserve for your losses. A wrongful death claim is usually considered a personal injury claim where the deceased person’s personal representative seeks compensation for the loss of the loved one.
Kentucky Revised Statutes 411.130 (1) provides that:
“Whenever the death of a person results from an injury inflicted by the negligence or wrongful act of another, damages may be recovered for the death from the person who caused it, or whose servant or agent caused it.”
Kentucky laws related to the wrongful death of a person and how to pursue compensation are contained in the Kentucky Revised Statutes. Unfortunately, most people are unlikely to know of these complex statutes or to have experience fighting for compensation for the death of a loved one.
The testimonials page at Johnson Law Firm shows how satisfied clients have been with our understanding, knowledgeable Kentucky wrongful death lawyers. We treat everyone that we represent with compassion and respect.
These are some of the ways that we help clients:
- Evaluating how the death occurred to determine if a wrongful death case is warranted
- Interviewing first responders and witnesses
- Gathering evidence from police reports, medical reports, documents, and surveillance cameras
- Filing paperwork and handling legal procedures and court appearances, and making sure that the claim is made under Kentucky laws and deadlines
- Handling communications and negotiations with insurance companies and lawyers
- Hiring an accident reconstruction expert to reconstruct the accident and to provide testimony regarding how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
The Kentucky wrongful death lawyer seeks the most compensation we can, given the facts of your case.
Contact Johnson Law Firm at (606) 437-4488 to schedule your free initial consultation.
Get Wrongful Death Compensation: Accidents, Negligence, & Your Claim Deadline
Wrongful death claims include every type of accident caused by the negligence of another or a “wrongful act of another.” This category includes car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and work-related accidents resulting in wrongful deaths.
The wrongful death attorneys at Johnson Law Firm work to help get the compensation your family deserves for losing your loved one.
The attorney must show that:
- The person’s death was caused by another’s a wrongful act, neglect, or default.
- The act, neglect, or default would have entitled the victim to file an action for damages if he or she had not died.
- The deceased victim has surviving beneficiaries, children, or dependents.
- There were monetary damages resulting from the death of the victim.
According to Ky. Rev. Stat. Section 411.130, there is a statute of limitations on how long you have to file a wrongful death claim. A cause of action must be filed within one year from death.
Your Kentucky Wrongful Death Case: Settlement or Jury Award?
A settlement means an agreement is reached without the case going to court. Instead, the at-fault party offers a specific financial amount to settle the case, and the victim’s representative accepts the settlement amount.
A jury award is determined after the end of a trial, with the amount set by the jury.
Damages awarded in a wrongful death typically include:
- Medical, hospital, funeral, and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support that the victim would have provided
- Compensation for pain and suffering that the victim suffered between the time of injury and death
- Loss of victim’s parental leadership
- Loss of consortium.
The judge or jury considers whether the defendant should have known that serious harm would occur because of their behavior, the profitability of the misconduct, and other factors when determining punitive damages.
Every case is different, and many cases never go to trial because they are settled out of court. If indeed your case does go to trial, you will have the opportunity to decide whether or not you testify. Your Kentucky wrongful death attorney will advise you about the courtroom process and discuss the options available to you. Generally, it is not necessary to worry at the outset about whether you will have to testify, because that is down the road and the case may never go to trial.
Wrongful Death Awards: How Compensation is Distributed to Family
Kentucky law determines how wrongful death damage awards will be distributed. Typically, the person filing a claim must be the individual who actually suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence. This is not possible in a wrongful death case, because they are gone. However, even after death, their estate lives on for legal purposes. In these cases, the personal representative of the estate is the one who has the authority to prosecute a wrongful death claim. This person is either the executor or administrator of the estate, who is appointed by the court. This person oversees and winds down the estate until assets are distributed and the deceased’s debts are paid.
Under Kentucky law, when a wrongful death attorney succeeds in proving negligence and achieves a favorable settlement or court verdict, any financial award will be paid as follows:
- If a widow/widower and children: Half to widow/widower and half to any children
- If a widow/widower, but no children: All to the widow/widower
- If no widow/widower, but children: All to the children
- If no widow/widower and no children: All to the parents
- If no widow/widower, no children, and no parents: All to the decedent’s estate.
How Much Does a Kentucky Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?
It costs nothing up front to hire a Kentucky wrongful death attorney, because we work on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid until you get paid. Attorneys’ fees and expenses come out of the financial settlement or award at the end of the process. If for some reason your claim is not successful, then you owe us nothing.
Contact Attorney Billy Johnson Today
Let Our Wrongful Death Attorneys Start Working For You Now
We will never forget that we work for you. We listen to your concerns, keep you informed, and aggressively advocate for the best possible outcome in your best interests. Our law firm offers a commitment to providing exceptional, personalized care.
Call Johnson Law Firm for a free initial consultation today at (606) 437-4488.
Attorney Billy Johnson
William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]
