Nebraska Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a loved one is tragic under any circumstances. Experiencing the death of a loved one due to the negligence of another can leave you feeling more than just grief. You may also experience feelings of anger and a sense of injustice. The psychological and emotional impacts are undoubtedly overwhelming. Nebraska law provides a way for you to receive monetary damages for your loved one’s death. You may be entitled to recover expenses incurred before your loved one’s death, as well as those resulting from your loss.
Under Nebraska’s wrongful death laws, the family of the decedent may file a lawsuit against the person who caused the death. The law requires that the actions of the responsible party would have enabled the decedent to file a personal injury claim. A wrongful death suit may be brought against the wrongdoer individually or against his or her estate.
You will likely be an emotional wreck for some time after losing your loved one—but contact a Nebraska wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. The law requires families to file your wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the date of your loved one’s death. If you allow the two-year statute of limitations to expire, you will be barred from bringing a wrongful death claim. Your suit may be dismissed in its entirety, leaving you with no recourse under the law.
Wrongful death cases can be complicated and complex, and you may feel as if you’ve lost not just a loved one but control of your life. Contact an attorney as soon as possible, so he or she can evaluate your case right away—but also so you can win justice for your loved one and a sense of closure and security for yourself and the rest of your family.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, the decedent’s spouse or next of kin may file a wrongful death suit. Next of kin includes the person’s children (both natural and legally adopted) and legal guardians.
Damages in a Nebraska Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The law recognizes that the family of someone who has been fatally injured by the negligence of another party suffers unique damages. The law broadly classifies various types of monetary compensation that families may seek. Each case is unique and requires its own legal analysis. However, injured individuals may be able to receive compensation for some or all of the damages listed below.
Medical Costs
Your loved one may have received medical care before passing away. A wrongful death suit may allow family members to recover expenses related to their loved one’s final injury or illness. Expenses may include costs of ambulance transportation, hospital stays, or any medications, therapies, or rehabilitation costs incurred.
Final Expenses
A court may award you the reasonable costs associated with your loved one’s funeral and burial.
Wages
Lost wages of the decedent may be awarded to surviving family members who were dependent on the decedent’s income. Lost wages include any losses from missing work after the injury as well as future earnings. Clearly, calculating future lost wages is a bit more difficult than figuring out what losses the individual suffered while still alive.
If necessary, you might seek the services of an actuary to calculate future wages. Wages at the time of death, potential for advancement, level of education or professional training, life expectancy, age at death, and the time value of money will all be considered when making such a determination.
Your Loved One’s Pain and Suffering
Some injuries result in death almost immediately. In other situations, people succumb to their injuries days, weeks, or even months after their accidents. Surviving family members may be entitled to receive monetary damages for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering may be compensated for the period of time between the injury and your loved one’s death. Under Nebraska law, family members are only permitted to recover for their loved one’s pain and suffering, not their own.
Loss of Household Services
Every family dynamic is different. Regardless, you may recover for services to your household that your loved one performed. You may be entitled to the costs of childcare, cleaning, lawn maintenance, grocery shopping, or household repairs. Families are entitled to any costs incurred from retaining others to perform the services that your loved one once handled.
Loss of Companionship
Losing a loved one can be devastating for surviving family members. You may be able to recover monetary damages for the intangible benefits your loved one provided to your family. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of comfort, care, guidance, and companionship
Hire a Nebraska Wrongful Death Attorney
Wrongful death suits are complicated and involve many moving parts and different parties. Of course, the person who caused the death will certainly be involved. In addition, depending on the circumstances, your claim may also involve insurance companies, an employer, or other parties. You can bet that the individuals on the receiving end of your lawsuit will have their own lawyer, or a team of them. You should not try to fight to protect your rights in a wrongful death suit by yourself. Seek the assistance of an experienced and competent Nebraska wrongful death attorney.
We understand that no amount of money can bring back your loved one. However, the law attempts to accommodate those left behind for the cost of their losses. You should not bear the financial burden of medical bills or funeral and burial experiences. You deserve compensation for your pain and suffering.
The attorneys at the Robert Pahlke Law Group have over 85 years of combined experience fighting for families like yours. We are dedicated to helping families who have been devastated by the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. Because each case is different, it is impossible to guarantee a particular result. However, we promise to bring our extensive experience, knowledge of the law, and human compassion to every case we take. Trust us to fight for your legal rights while you focus on healing from your profound loss.
Should you decide to pursue legal action, an attorney will need sufficient time to develop your legal claims ensuring success, so contact us today at (308) 633-4444 to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation.