Fatal Car Accident: Legal Recourse
Fatal Car Accident in St. Louis: Legal Recourse
After the outrage and devastation of seeing your loved one's life cut short by a reckless driver in a fatal car accident in Missouri, what are your options? Every fatal accident is unique and affect those close to the victim in many different ways. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, no set time limit for processing your loss.
However, you and your family may be eligible to receive compensation for the loss of a loved one in a St. Louis fatal car accident. Burger Law's team of St. Louis lawyers specializes in restoring justice for those who have been harmed by tragedies like fatal car accidents. When you hire the Burger Law fatal car accident law firm, we will demand that you receive maximum compensation and that the person responsible pays for the irreversible harm they have caused through their negligent actions.
In addition to affecting you emotionally, losing a loved one can have a huge impact on your life in practical ways. If your spouse is killed, you may suddenly be a single parent with only one income. You may lose your health insurance through your spouse's employer, a caretaker to your children and a significant portion of your household income. Filing a wrongful death suit with the help of experienced fatal car accident lawyers in St. Louis can help alleviate the stress and pressure of dealing with these details. Get help by calling Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT.
Fatal Car Accident Wrongful Death Claim
Fatal Car Accident Wrongful Death Claim in Missouri
If your family member was killed by a reckless or negligent driver in a fatal car accident in Missouri, you have the legal option to make a wrongful death claim. Missouri law on wrongful death allows those who have lost a loved one due to another person's negligence, such as in the event of a fatal car accident, to be compensated for their losses and to make the negligent person pay for the harm they have caused.
Missouri Revised Statute §537.080 identifies three categories of individuals who are able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against a defendant. The most immediate family members (spouses, children and descendants, grandparents) have first priority. If no such family members are able to bring the suit, siblings and their descendants may be permitted to do so. If there are no available family members in the first two categories, the court may appoint a special plaintiff ad litem to make a claim for the death of a loved one. Our experienced St. Louis attorneys have a deep understanding of Missouri law and will put our skills to use to ensure that you are compensated for the loss of your loved one and that the person responsible is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
In filing a wrongful death claim, you will most certainly need a great wrongful death lawyer in St. Louis who has experience representing families who have lost their loved ones due to the negligence or poor decisions of another person, such as in a fatal car accident. Burger Law has a team of dedicated wrongful death lawyers in St. Louis who specialize in cases like car accidents. Our attorneys have experience winning tough fatal car accidents and other wrongful death claims, securing the maximum possible compensation for our deserving clients.
Burger Law's Fatal Car Accident Wrongful Death Case Results
Burger Law's Fatal Car Accident Wrongful Death Case Results in St. Louis
Burger Law is a leading personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving those who have been harmed by others in St. Louis and across Missouri and other states. In our more than 25 years as a St. Louis law firm, we have helped our clients recover more than $170 million in verdicts and settlements.
Our St. Louis attorneys fight relentlessly for victims in fatal car accidents, and our clients’ case results reflect that tenacity. You can hear some of our clients’ stories directly by viewing our testimonial videos or you can read about some of our recent successes below.
What Damages Are Available in a Fatal Car Accident Case?
What Damages Are Available in a Fatal Car Accident Case in St. Louis?
Though it is plain that no amount of money could make up for the lost of your loved one after a fatal car accident, you have a chance to receive a financial recovery to compensate you for your losses. By filing a wrongful death claim against the negligent parties, you have an opportunity to hold responsible the person or people who caused your loved one's fatal car accident and to receive compensation for the losses you have experienced.
You have only one chance to collect a full recovery after a fatal car accident and it is critical that you make the most of it by hiring a skilled and experienced wrongful death lawyer in the St. Louis area. Burger Law's team of winning wrongful death attorneys will fight until you receive a full financial recovery.
Our St. Louis attorneys have extensive experience negotiating and demanding full recoveries for our clients. As a leading St. Louis wrongful death law firm, our team of attorneys is intimately familiar with all the different damages for which you might be eligible for compensation under §537.090. We will not rest until you receive a complete financial recovery.
In your fatal car accident wrongful death claim, you may be able to recover compensation for the following categories of damages.
- Victim's Economic Damages - any costs your loved one incurred before their death. Economic damages could include medical bills, lost wages, costs of treatment and other expenses or monetary losses. One way to look at this category of damages is that these are the damages the victim would have been compensated for in a personal injury case if they had survived.
- Survivors' Economic Damages - the costs incurred by the immediate family members (spouses, children, parents, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings) or other surviving family members recognized by the court as legitimate wrongful death plaintiffs. Economic damages for surviving family members could include funeral and burial costs, lost wages, lost benefits and other compensation that they will no longer receive.
- Victim's Pain and Suffering - non-economic damages for the victim's pain and suffering before their death. This is an especially important area of compensation in situations where the victim was not killed instantly but survived for some amount of time with major injuries or health conditions. If your loved one lost their life in a St. Louis fatal car accident, you can collect compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced.
- Survivors' Non-Economic Damages - non-monetary damages you have experienced as as result of your loved one's fatal car accident death. Non-economic damages for the surviving family member(s) cover things like loss of companionship, guidance, counsel and consortium.
- Punitive Damages - damages meant to punish the responsible party. Punitive damages are only present in cases where the liable person was grossly negligent or intentionally caused harm. If your loved one was killed in a fatal drunk driving car accident in St. Louis or the person responsible could be guilty of criminal murder, manslaughter or a similar offense, you may be able to make them pay through punitive damages.
To recover the total compensation you and your family are owed, you must hire a skilled wrongful death lawyer in St. Louis from a reputable law firm like Burger Law. We have the resources and expertise to identify and investigate all forms of damages you and your family have experienced and will demand full payment to help you continue in life. We fight fiercely for our clients' rights and do not rest until you receive complete compensation.
Do not wait; call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT today for help recovering full payment in your wrongful death case after your family member was killed in a fatal car accident. No amount of money could hope to replace your loved one, but receiving maximum compensation can help provide stability for your family and allow you to live on to honor your loved one's memory.