When another person's negligence is the cause of your family member's death, and you decide to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party, there are several options available for recovering compensation. You might be wondering, "Will my family's wrongful death case have to go to trial?", "Can I settle a wrongful death claim without going to court?" or "Can I recover more compensation for a wrongful death claim by going to trial?"
In this FAQ, we'll explore the avenues available to wrongful death cases for recovering compensation, what type of wrongful death cases go to trial, and the benefit of taking a wrongful death claim to trial if an attorney thinks it's a good idea. If you are wondering if your family's wrongful death case will have to go to trial, or have other questions about your case, call our wrongful death lawyers in St. Louis at 314-542-2222 or 618-272-2222. We don't charge any fees for our consultations and never ask for any attorney fees unless we win damages for your wrongful death claim.
When Do Wrongful Death Cases Go to Trial?
Most personal injury and wrongful death cases are settled out of court, but several situations can make going to trial a wise decision. For example, if the negligent party is solely at fault, but the insurance company won't acknowledge the policyholder's fault, taking the case to trial allows the judge and jury to decide if damages should be awarded for expenses associated with the victim's death. While this can ensure that you recover compensation for your family member's wrongful death, taking a case to trial can be expensive, and often takes longer than cases that don't go to trial to recover a satisfactory settlement.
What is the Benefit of Taking a Wrongful Death Case to Court?
Depending on the circumstances of your family member's death, who the negligent party is, and if you have a wrongful death lawyer in St. Louis representing your family's case, taking a wrongful death case to court can be incredibly beneficial. Fighting for your case in court ensures that your wrongful death claim isn't at the whims of the other party's insurance company, and in cases involving product liability or negligence by a large company, taking a case to trial could pave the way for a class-action lawsuit if the families of other victims decide to come forward.
Regardless of how a wrongful death case is settled, the most important thing you need to keep in mind when filing a wrongful death claim for your family member's death is that you'll need wrongful death lawyer in St. Louis. Cases without legal representation statistically recover less compensation than claims filed with help from an attorney, and often settle quicker.
If you lost an immediate family member because of another person's negligence, and would like to discuss your wrongful death case with our team and find out if your family's wrongful death case will have to go to trial, call our wrongful death lawyers in St. Louis at 314-542-2222, 618-272-2222, or connect with our attorneys today. We don't charge any fees for consultations and never ask for any attorney fees unless we win compensation for your wrongful death claim.