Survivors eligible to bring a wrongful death case may either file a wrongful death claim with the negligent party’s insurance company or file a lawsuit.
One would think that insurance companies would show sympathy toward a deceased person’s family members. However, far too often, insurance companies see the payout of a wrongful death claim as harmful to their profits.
As a result, they often try to minimize or deny wrongful death claims. Insurance company representatives may argue that the deceased bears responsibility for their own death, regardless of the facts. They may try to turn family members against each other so the wrongful death case cannot proceed successfully. Or they may try to settle quickly, but for an amount that is much less than justice would require.
To counter these common insurance company tactics, hire an attorney to negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair amount. If the insurance company refuses to settle fairly, the attorney can take the case to civil court to pressure the insurance company toward offering a fair settlement—and if a fair settlement doesn’t come, a jury can decide the claim.