Wrongful Death Lawsuit

We handle and have handled the types of cases discussed below, but the list is not complete. There are many cases that present specific situations that we can help with. If you are not sure if you have the kind of case we handle, just ask us, and if it may be the kind of case we can help with, we will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.
 

We handle cases resulting in the death of a loved one, whether the person dies immediately or survived for some period of time.

We handle such cases when they arise out of the following

Vehicle collisions, crashes, accidents, wrecks (automobile, truck, semi-tractor-trailer, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian (vehicle v. pedestrian), bus, boating, airplane/aviation,train/railroad, drunk driving collisions, recreational vehicles, etc.), premises liability cases (slip and fall, trip and falls, and other injuries or deaths occurring at a business premises or private residence), including:

• Unsafe or defective products causing death
• Animal bites or other incidents caused by animals
• Assaults and batteries, homicides, other criminal acts
• Medical malpractice (surgical errors, failure to diagnose a disease or condition, hospital errors, pharmacy errors, nursing home negligence and nursing home neglect
• Other negligence (failure to exercise reasonable care for the safety of others)

Special rules apply to wrongful death cases. Only certain people (spouses, children, parents, siblings) can pursue a case for a wrongful death. A “personal representative” of the deceased person is appointed to pursue the case. (An exception is the death of a child, which is usually brought by the child’s parents.) Other rules can limit the damages available, and still, others determine which survivors receive the proceeds.
 
If a person is injured but survives for a time before a death caused by those injuries, normally a choice has to be made as to whether to seek damages for the injury and suffering or the death itself.
 
If a person is injured and later dies from unrelated causes, normally a case can still be brought (if done within the applicable legal deadlines) to recover damages for the deceased person’s injuries. This is not really a “wrongful death” case (because the death was not caused by the incident at issue) but is a special kind of personal injury case usually known as a “survival” action (because the claim for injuries “survives” the person’s unrelated death.)
 
In simple terms, if you suffered the death of a loved one in Indiana, we can probably help you. The most important thing to know is that in some cases, the “where” is a complex question, so ask about a free consultation where we can better determine the “where” questions.
 
We have handled and can handle cases in all states of the United States and even in foreign countries. Some cases in other states require that we hire “co-counsel” in that state to help with issues under that state’s laws or to help file a lawsuit in that state, but that never results in any additional fees to you.

We have handled and can handle cases in all counties in Indiana, in any state court in Indiana, and in all federal courts in Indiana.

Most of our cases involve clients who live in, were injured in or lost a loved one in these 14 Indiana Counties:

• St. Joseph County, Indiana
• Elkhart County, Indiana
• Marshall County, Indiana
• Starke County, Indiana
• LaPorte County, Indiana
• Kosciusko County, Indiana
• Fulton County, Indiana
• Pulaski County, Indiana
• Jasper County, Indiana
• Porter County, Indiana
• Lake County, Indiana
• LaGrange County, Indiana
• Noble County, Indiana

We help people recover money for wrongful death damages including:

• Medical bills (hospital bills, ambulance bills, doctor bills, medication costs, transportation costs, nursing and home health costs, medical equipment costs)
• Lost income to the dependents of the deceased person
• Counseling costs after a death
• Estate costs after a death
• Funeral and burial costs after a death
• Punitive damages (where allowed by law)

We represent individuals and families who have lost a loved one. That includes men, women, children, surviving spouses, surviving parents, surviving children, other surviving family members, and guardians of a child or disabled person.
 
We do choose which people we represent, but we never make those choices on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual preference, religion, or political views.

We represent our clients against any person or entity which investigation determines is, are, or may be at fault or legally responsible for the death of our client’s loved one.

Client representation against any person or entity includes:

• Individual persons
• Insurance companies
• International or national corporations
• Businesses of any kind (corporations, partnerships, LLC’s, LLP’s, PC’s, sole proprietorships, or non-profits)
• The State of Indiana or any of its agencies
• Any Indiana county, city, town, township, agency, or other entity
• The United States government or any federal government agency
• Any school corporation, district, or school city
• Any transportation or other authority (such as NICTD, Transpo, etc.)
• Healthcare providers

If you are not sure if you have the kind of case we handle, just ask us, and if it may be the kind of case we can help with, we will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.