The very thought of losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful act is more than most people can bear. That is why we’re here. If a person’s incompetence or negligence has caused the death of a parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, child or friend, contact us to speak with one of our wrongful death attorneys. We have extensive experience. We can help you win the outcome that will compensate loved ones, and help ensure justice for you, your family and the public.
The Richmond wrongful death attorneys of Cravens & Noll understand that you are grieving. We’re here to represent families of wrongful or accidental death victims, and help them rebuild or sustain their lives in the absence of their deceased loved one.
Wrongful Death Claims in Richmond, Virginia
We understand the hardships that come when you lose a loved one.
While nothing can replace that loss, we’re here to ensure that the surviving family members and “statutory beneficiaries” receive the compensation they deserve. It’s important for the family of the decedent to be provided with security, especially if the death has resulted in the following:
- Loss of the victim’s society
- Loss of victim’s income
- Loss of victim’s protection
- Loss of victim’s care
- Loss of victim’s assistance
If the person you lost was a primary wage-earner for your family, it is especially important to immediately seek out and preserve the evidence and testimony of witnesses. This is best done immediately after the accident or injury, when evidence can be photographed and preserved and memories are fresh.
What is Wrongful Death?
It’s important to recognize what constitutes wrongful death in the state of Virginia. According to Virginia law, it is the:
“death of a person… caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of any person or corporation…”
Under the Virginia Wrongful Death Act, the personal representatives of the deceased have two years to file a suit against the responsible person or persons to claim their rightful legal compensation and reimbursement. To properly file, it can take months and months to gather the necessary legal documentation. That’s why, at Cravens & Noll, P.C., we work quickly to give you recognized exceptional legal counsel in the Virginia area.
Who is Compensated in a Wrongful Death Claim?
In a wrongful death case, the victim’s family, with proper legal representation, is compensated for expenses and damages related to the death.
A few examples of compensable damages are:
- Expenses for treatment, hospitalization and total care of the victim
- Funeral or burial expenses
- Punitive damages in Virginia
- Mental anguish, sorrow, grief
- Loss of earnings and familial contribution
We work for the recovery of these damages to provide fair and just compensation and reimbursement to the beneficiaries. Statutory beneficiaries, per Virginia law, can include:
- The spouse
- Children
- Parent(s)
- Siblings
- Dependent relatives(those who were dependent on the victim)
- Adopted relatives
Wrongful deaths can occur from personal injury incidents such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Use of dangerous property
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Use of defective products
- Medical malpractice
We handle the legal issues and fight to get the best outcome possible for you, so that you can focus on the emotional healing process that you and your family must endure.
Why You Need a Virginia Wrongful Death Attorney
We do not want to add to your burden, but rather, help you get back on your feet. Wrongful death cases take time. Overtime, evidence gets lost and memory fades over the years. Many people avoid calling a lawyer after the wrongful death of someone they love. Although they know they are deserving of financial compensation for their losses, most people are reluctant. Many don’t want to think about money and lawsuits. They worry that it diminishes or marginalizes the life of their loved one. Only later do they realize how important it was to get out early and investigate and prepare the claim. At Cravens & Noll, we want to lift that legal burden off your shoulders.
Efficient Representation in Richmond
One thing we know for sure is that no one wants to pay more than what is absolutely necessary for legal representation. Many people think there is a conflict between saving money and getting good quality legal representation. We disagree. By keeping our overhead down and always keeping our eye on minimizing unnecessary spending, we consistently provide our clients with superb legal representation and make very wise investments in experts, technology and case presentation materials.
Call us today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, and learn how we can help you get the compensation you deserve from a wrongful death suit.
