Knoxville, Tennessee Wrongful Death Lawyer

Lawyer for Wrongful Death Due to Others' Negligence in Knoxville, TN

Regardless of the situation, the death of a loved one can be traumatic. Family members may struggle with grief and sadness, and they may need to make changes to their lives as they address their loss. These issues can be difficult to deal with in any situation, but especially so in cases where a person was killed because of someone's negligence or wrongful actions. Family members who are struggling to move forward after the wrongful death of a loved one can take steps to recover financial compensation for their losses.

When addressing issues related to a loved one's death, representation from a skilled, experienced attorney can be crucial. At The Baker Law Firm, we provide legal help in multiple types of personal injury cases, helping our clients recover compensation for losses they have experienced because of the negligence of others. Attorney Lance K. Baker can take steps to ensure that a person or organization that was responsible for a person's death will be held liable for the ways a family has been affected.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases

There are many different situations where people may be killed due to negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions. Our firm can help people determine the best approach to take in wrongful death cases involving:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Drivers who act negligently and fail to protect the safety of others may cause collisions that can result in fatal injuries. Car accidents and commercial truck accidents may occur due to reckless driving, driving under the influence, distracted driving, failure to account for road conditions, failure to maintain a vehicle, or a variety of other reasons. Drivers who operate their vehicles negligently or other parties who were responsible for an accident can be held responsible for the fatal consequences of their actions.
• Premises liability: Property owners may be held liable for dangerous conditions that resulted in fatal injuries to visitors. Fall injuries may be fatal if a person fell from an upper level to a lower level due to issues such as defective railings or collapsing balconies. Wrongful deaths may also occur because of malfunctioning equipment like elevators or escalators, drownings in swimming pool accidents, or attacks by dogs or other animals.
• Criminal acts: Wrongful death claims may address illegal actions such as assault or homicide. The perpetrator of the crime may be held liable for the ways their actions affected the family members of a person who was killed.

Types of Compensation in Wrongful Death Claims

Family members who file wrongful death claims can address the different types of losses and damages they have experienced due to their loved one's death. In many cases, financial compensation may be needed to help ensure that a family will be able to cover their ongoing expenses and avoid difficulties. By taking steps to hold the perpetrator liable for their damages, a family can begin to heal and move forward from the traumatic experience they have suffered. The forms of compensation that family members may be able to receive include:

• Economic damages: The quantifiable financial losses a family has experienced due to the death of a loved one may be fully repaid. A wrongful death claim may address the loss of income the deceased person would have earned and used to provide for their family's needs. A family may also be reimbursed for the costs of medical treatment that was provided to the person prior to their death and expenses related to the person's funeral and burial or cremation.
• Non-economic damages: Compensation may also address the intangible losses experienced by a family. These may include the emotional distress that family members have experienced, the loss of companionship and affection suffered by the spouse of the deceased person, and the loss of parental guidance for children. The person or party responsible for a wrongful death may also be required to pay compensation to address the pain and suffering the deceased person experienced prior to their death.
• Punitive damages: In cases where a person acted in a manner that was particularly egregious, additional damages may be awarded as a penalty. These damages may address gross negligence, such as operating a vehicle in a manner that a person should have known would be dangerous while disregarding the possibility that others could suffer serious harm in an accident. A person may also be penalized for causing intentional harm. Punitive damages are meant to serve as a deterrent to prevent similar behavior in the future.

Contact Our Knoxville, Tennessee Wrongful Death Attorney

Following the loss of a loved one due to someone else's negligence, a family can take steps to achieve justice and recover compensation that will help them move forward from this traumatic experience. At The Baker Law Firm, we will work tirelessly to ensure that a family will receive the compensation they deserve. Contact us at 865-200-4117 to arrange a free consultation and get the legal representation needed to properly address a loved one's wrongful death.