Understanding Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Oregon

Want to know how to go about getting compensation for a loved one’s untimely death? We can help.

When you lose a loved one through a preventable situation, it’s understandable that you look for someone to blame. Most of the time, the only thing that can be blamed is bad luck, but once in a while unavoidable death can be attributed to a specific person or company. In this scenario, seeking retribution for a wrongful death in Oregon is the best way to make sure that nobody else loses a loved one in the same way that you have.

There should be no shame and seeking compensation for the wrongful death of someone you loved. You are both protecting other members of society from the same fate and claiming back some of the expenses associated with laying someone to rest.

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

A wrongful death lawsuit is what we call the process of starting litigation against a company or person whose negligence has cost you your loved one. If someone in your family unexpectedly dies, there are huge losses in every sense of the word. Your family is minus a cherished member, as well as down in costs of funerary arrangements and lost earnings.

A wrongful death lawsuit is always filed by those who have lost someone due to the negligence of a third party. A few examples of these might be:

• A partner who has been killed in an avoidable work accident.
• A child who has been killed while on school premises.
• A parent who has suffered fatal injury while performing a mundane task like shopping or eating in a restaurant.
• Ignored allergies causing death.
• Assault that causes death.

Although there are many different forms of wrongful death lawsuits, those above should give you a good overview of what constitutes wrongful death. There has to have been a death, there has to have been a circumstance that was avoidable, and there has to have been a party responsible for that circumstance.

What does a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Involve?

You will need to file a claim with a judge, who will review your evidence and decide over who they think is at fault. Don’t be overwhelmed by this, a good legal representative will be able to help you do all of this. For your part, gather all the evidence that you can and keep track of the financial costs you have incurred at the loss.

Next, when the judge gives an indication, the company or person will likely try to agree to an out of court settlement. Court costs are expensive so they will try to pay you off before litigation starts. You can choose to settle, or you can take them to court. The choice is yours. The case will take time, though. A recent case for the killing of a black teenager by cops in Portland has only just finished and was started in 2017.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Oregon

If you live in Oregon and this has happened to your family, you need to put a claim in before the statute of limitations kicks in. To do this, call a reputable personal injury and wrongful death law firm, such as Johnston Law Firm, to hire the best in legal guidance. They will help you navigate the legal system and get the justice you deserve. Even if they can’t bring back your lost love, they can at least get you to recompense for your heartache.