Jonesboro Fatal Car Accident Lawyer

Losing a loved one in a car accident is traumatic because that person is gone in the blink of an eye, leaving you struggling with your grief and unsure of what to do next. While a wrongful death claim against the party who caused the car accident cannot bring your loved one back, it can provide you with compensation to help you manage your finances in the aftermath of the accident. A Jonesboro car accident lawyer can help you learn more about your family’s rights in this situation

Requirements to File a Jonesboro Fatal Car Accident Claim

When you lose a loved one in a fatal car accident, you have the right to file a fatal car accident claim under the following circumstances:

• Your loved one died as a direct result of injuries sustained in the car accident.
• Someone’s negligence caused the car accident.
• You were directly related to the victim.

Who Can File a Fatal Car Accident Claim?

If you are directly related to the victim in one of the following ways, you may be able to file a fatal car accident claim: 

• The victim’s spouse
• The victim’s child (if they did not have a spouse)
• The victim’s parents (if they did not have a spouse or children)
• In some cases, the victim’s estate can initiate a claim when the victim had no close family members to file on their behalf

Compensation in a Jonesboro Fatal Car Accident Claim

When you file a fatal car accident claim in Jonesboro after losing a loved one, knowing how much compensation you can expect for that loss can help you manage your finances. Some elements of the wrongful death claim can be established with direct evidence of the financial challenges you will or have faced. In other cases, as in proving your loved one’s pain and suffering or your own grief, working with a lawyer can help you determine what compensation you could expect and how to best manage your claim to maximize that compensation. 

The compensation you receive may fall into one of the following key categories.

Medical Costs and Compensation for Pain and Suffering

If your loved one did not pass away immediately, your claim may include compensation for medical bills the family paid because of the accident. In addition, in this case, your loved one would have suffered because of the accident, and you may be entitled to compensation for their pain.

Funeral Expenses

Funeral and burial expenses are often higher than expected, especially if your family did not have a plan or funeral cover in place. You can claim compensation for these expenses through a fatal car accident claim. 

Compensation for Lost Support

If your family relied on your loved one’s income to pay the bills, you can include compensation for lost wages in the fatal car accident claim. You can also receive compensation for the services your loved one previously performed for your family that you may now have to pay for, including childcare, senior care, home care, cooking, or cleaning. However, this compensation is not only for direct financial hardship resulting from the car accident but can also include compensation for the loss of your loved one’s presence and support. 

How Working with a Jonesboro Fatal Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

A lawyer can help reduce the stress associated with filing a fatal car accident claim and shield you from unsympathetic statements made by the insurance company. In addition to this emotional support, they can help you in the following ways.

Calculate a Reasonable Compensation Amount

Compensation from a fatal car accident claim will not bring your loved one back, but it can help set your family up for financial success. Losing a loved one creates many potential financial challenges. For example, losing their income can leave you without the money your family usually relies on to pay the bills.

An attorney can help establish what compensation you may receive and create a compelling injury claim that clearly establishes what you expect from the insurance company. While a lawyer cannot guarantee that you will receive this compensation, having realistic expectations may make it easier to negotiate with the insurance company.

Collect Evidence

You will not have your loved one’s eyewitness testimony about the accident, but you can work with an attorney to collect evidence that clearly establishes liability for the accident. A fatal car accident attorney in Jonesboro can access vital evidence related to the accident, including:

• Video footage from the accident
• Witness testimony
• Expert witness evaluation of the vehicles involved in the accident

Once an attorney has collected the evidence, they can create a clear, compelling claim that establishes fault for the accident, even if multiple parties contributed to it. From sideswipe accidents to T-bone collisions, an attorney can fully investigate exactly what caused your loved one’s death.

Fight for Reasonable Compensation

Dealing with the insurance company on your own could leave you struggling to get reasonable compensation for your loss. However, when you work with a lawyer, they can fight for compensation on your behalf. 

A fatal car accident lawyer in Jonesboro can negotiate with the insurance company or fight for you in the courtroom. Sometimes, just having a lawyer can make the insurance company take you more seriously. In other cases, a lawyer can help clearly lay out the circumstances related to the accident and the compensation your family may reasonably claim. 

Contact a Jonesboro Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Today

At John Foy, we have over 25 years of experience fighting and winning for accident victims and their families. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, do not try to handle the claim alone. Instead, contact us today to discuss your family’s right to compensation.