There are many important aspects to a wrongful death action, among them is the fact that you must be able to prove the cause of death. Expert testimony is needed to demonstrate that the actual cause of death was the act of the wrongdoer. The grief one has has over the death of a loved one can often having lasting psychological impact. Expert testimony from a psychiatrist, grief counselor, or psychologist can significantly enhance the value of a wrongful death claim. The loss of a father or mother to an infant or child can have significant impact on a child s development.
Careful preparation is necessary to realize the full value of any wrongful death claim.
In order to settle a wrongful death claim, you must obtain court approval. This often requires a hearing, wherein the judge decides whether the terms of the proposed settlement includes all statutory beneficiaries and is fair to all persons involved. An experienced wrongful death attorney should be consulted whenever there is any question whether someone s death could give rise to a wrongful death action. The personal injury attorneys at Richmond and Fishburne often pursue wrongful death actions on a contingent fee basis. This means that if there is no recovery by settlement or verdict, the attorney receives no fee and the personal representative is only responsible for the costs of the action.