Wrongful Death Attorneys in Columbia, MO
Call for a Case Review
Wrongful Death Attorneys in Columbia, MO. Halvorsen Klote represents clients in the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. Our firm knows that losing a loved one is tragic. As experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys in Columbia, MO, Halvorsen Klote helps survivors recover any financial damages in the case of an unexpected death. This includes vehicular accidents, medical malpractice, work-related incidents, falls, and others. Families may be able to recover compensation for their loss. Contact Halvorsen Klote's Columbia, MO, wrongful death attorneys today for a case review and consultation.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
This is a frequent question we get from clients. This varies on which state the victim died and many other factors. As a basic rule, the following survivors are able to sue after a wrongful death:
- Immediate family members (children, parents, guardians, siblings, adoptees)
- Financial dependants for lost support and care
- Distant family members such as cousins and grandparents
- Spouses or long-term partners
There are more than 170,000 unintentional deaths each year in the U.S. If you're financially dependent on someone who has died, it's essential to contact a wrongful death attorney in Columbia, MO, as soon as you can. Losing income, childcare, and other support may cause serious harm and financial stress on any survivors. Halvorsen Klote has helped clients with these sorts of cases. Feel free to view our testimonials here.
Who Can You Sue for Wrongful Death?
There's a number of liable parties depending on the incident. Each state has different laws on this, of course. In general, claimants have been potentially victimized by whichever parties are at fault. This includes a driver and that driver's employer, the contractor responsible for any roadwork, an employee, government agencies, distributors or manufacturers, a building owner, and others.
Who's at fault depends on where the accident happened, any liability coverage, and other factors. It is essential to reach out to an experienced Columbia, MO, wrongful death attorney that can assess the case and make sure all damages are covered.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
A death in the family can cause emotional and financial stress to family members. The causes can range from dying in a train accident to a construction platform falling on someone. There's no way to tell. A few of the more common causes include the following:
- Automotive accidents account for nearly 40,000 deaths every year in the United States.
- Medical malpractice claims often involve anesthesia errors, birth injuries, defective equipment, and nursing home neglect.
- Workplace accidents usually include machinery malfunctions, chemical exposure, and burns.
- Product liability deaths can be caused due to equipment failure (faulty brakes on a car), lack of a warning systems, chemicals, and other dangerous products.
Halvorsen Klote's wrongful death attorneys in Columbia, MO, provide experienced legal representation to victims. View our client testimonials to learn more about our firm. Our attorneys are here to help.
Damages for Wrongful Death
Economic damages may include lost wages, lost benefits, any loss of inheritance, and even the value of goods a victim would have provided if they didn't die. You can also add medical and funeral expenses that survivors had to pay for. These are also considered "special" damages which have an attached dollar amount. Most expenses can be included in a settlement.
General damages are more complicated. Non-economic repercussions such as emotional distress, loss of guidance or training, pain and suffering, and loss of love can all factor in. Some states allow you to claim punitive damages for negligent acts.
Your Columbia, MO, wrongful death lawyers will calculate these damages and make sure survivors receive adequate reimbursement for their loss. You also need to consider statutes of limitations in the state the accident occurred in. The rule of thumb is that you should pursue a case within one year.
Tips for Hiring a Wrongful Death Lawyer
There are a few things you should look for before you hire an attorney to represent your case. Below are a couple of questions to get you started:
- What kind of clients do you work with? You need to know if you are contacting the right kind of firm (size, experience, etc.) to manage your case.
- Do you have experience with these types of cases? Many firms should be able to provide you with case results and reviews.
- How much does your firm charge? Lawyer fees are an obvious concern. In tort law, most firms charge on a contingency basis (services are free and a percentage of any victory is awarded to the client).
Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney in Columbia, MO, Now
Don't hesitate to reach out to Halvorsen Klote now for a consultation. You can call us at 1-877-51-HKLAW (877-514-5529 for a case consultation. Our Columbia, MO, wrongful death attorneys manage a number of other cases as well, including:
- Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
- Auto Accident Attorney
- Bike Wreck Lawyer
- What to Do After a Car Accident
- Premises Liability Attorneys
- Automobile Injury Attorney
- Motorcycle Accidents Attorney
- Lawyer for Bicycle Accident
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Injury Claim Lawyer
Our attorneys would be more than happy to discuss your case. We've settled numerous cases and you can view our case results here.
Joel Halvorsen
Attorney at Law
Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.
Greg Klote
Attorney at Law
Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.
Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.
Samantha Orlowski
Attorney at Law
Samantha Orlowski is a practicing attorney Halvorsen Klote.
Samantha joined Halvorsen Klote in 2018 as a law clerk and has since become a practicing attorney. Sam's number one priority is to provide individualized experiences for each client to achieve the best results.
No matter the cause of death, it is important to contact our local wrongful death lawyers in Columbia, MO, right away if there are financial damages. Legal counsel doesn't cost you anything. At Halvorsen Klote, we charge on a contingency fee basis. This means that there aren't any upfront costs and you only pay if we win the case. Our Columbia, MO, wrongful death attorneys are here to help.