Springfield Wrongful Death Lawyer

Nobody should ever have to go through the devastation and grief of losing a loved one in a preventable accident. Yet careless and reckless behavior can quickly and unexpectedly result in a life-changing, fatal accident. At Sabbeth Law, we want to help you seek the compensation you need. An experienced Springfield wrongful death lawyer at our firm will assist you every step of the way through the legal process of wrongful death claims.

Motor vehicle collisions commonly give rise to wrongful death lawsuits, with large truck accidents being particularly deadly. Due to the large size and weight of big rigs, a collision with a semi-truck frequently results in fatal injuries to vehicle occupants or to pedestrians or bicyclists.

While we serve clients with a wide variety of personal injury and wrongful death cases, we specialize in trucking and commercial motor vehicle cases. We are members of the Association of Truck Accident Lawyers and the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group, and we were recently selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top Truck Accident Lawyers.

We get to the scene as soon as possible to help you, and we do our best to beat the insurance company to the site of the crash. We use the best experts from across the country and have achieved 8-figure and 7-figure results. We are built to handle cases like yours and can come to you.

Understanding Wrongful Death in Springfield, VT

Wrongful death law is a specific area of the law that is related to personal injury law. In a personal injury lawsuit, the law recognizes the ability of the person who has been harmed to file a wrongful death action for financial compensation against the at-fault party. With a wrongful death case, the law recognizes that the injured victim is no longer alive to file a claim on her own behalf.

Accordingly, the law recognizes the right of another party to metaphorically step into the shoes of the person who suffered the fatal injury and to file a wrongful death action.

The person or party who is allowed to step into the role of the deceased will vary from state to state. For anyone who is planning to work with Springfield wrongful death attorneys, it is important to understand that Vermont law and New Hampshire law are distinct from one another, so it will be critical to identify the applicable state law for your case.

To be clear, serious accidents and injuries in the Springfield area—especially car crashes—may occur in either Vermont or New Hampshire, so you should work with knowledgeable wrongful death attorneys to determine which state law applies.

Common Types of Wrongful Death Accidents

Many different types of accidents and incidents of negligence can give rise to wrongful death claims in and around Springfield. These include:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents 
  • Product defect injuries
  • Premises liability cases, like slip and fall accidents,

Medical Malpractice as a Basis for Wrongful Death

Medical malpractice represents a significant cause of wrongful death claims in Springfield and throughout Vermont. When healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care, the consequences can be fatal. Medical malpractice wrongful death cases arise from surgical errors, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of serious conditions, medication errors, birth injuries, and anesthesia mistakes.

These cases require experienced wrongful death attorneys who understand both the legal process and the complex medical issues involved. Establishing medical malpractice as the basis for a wrongful death claim requires expert testimony demonstrating that the healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused the death. Our firm works with leading medical experts to thoroughly investigate these claims and build compelling cases for families who have lost loved ones due to preventable medical errors.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The party or parties who can be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit will depend on the applicable state law. A Springfield, VT, wrongful death lawyer can help you with your case, whether Vermont or New Hampshire law applies.

Under Vermont law, only the personal representative of the deceased’s estate can be eligible to file the wrongful death claim, although that party can seek compensation for the surviving family members.

Under New Hampshire law, any person interested in the estate of a deceased person can file a wrongful death action, which means a surviving spouse, surviving child, and many other parties may be eligible to file a claim.

Filing Deadlines for Wrongful Death Claims

The timeline for your lawsuit will depend on state law. Under Vermont law, a wrongful death suit must be filed within two years from the date of death, while New Hampshire law typically requires a wrongful death claim to be filed within three years from the date of death. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your ability to seek justice and financial compensation for your loss.

Recoverable Damages in Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Vermont law permits several categories of compensation in wrongful death cases, providing financial remedies for both economic and non-economic losses.

Surviving family members may recover medical bills incurred before death, including emergency services, hospitalization, and any attempted life-saving treatments. These costs often reach substantial amounts, particularly in cases involving intensive care.

Funeral expenses constitute another significant recoverable damage category. Families shouldn’t bear these unexpected financial burdens alone when caused by another’s negligence.

Lost future income represents perhaps the most substantial economic damage in many cases. Courts calculate this figure based on the deceased’s earning capacity, career trajectory, and remaining work years. A young professional’s wrongful death might result in millions in lost lifetime earnings.

Vermont law specifically allows recovery for loss of companionship, guidance, and consortium—the emotional support and relationship benefits now permanently lost. Unlike some states, Vermont does not impose arbitrary caps on these non-economic damages.

Conscious pain and suffering endured by the victim before death represent another recoverable element. The compensation amount typically correlates with the duration and severity of suffering prior to death.

In cases involving particularly egregious negligence or intentional harm, punitive damages may be awarded. These damages aim not just to compensate survivors but to punish wrongdoers and deter similar future conduct.

The personal representative who brings the claim must prove these damages with compelling evidence, including expert testimony on economic projections, medical documentation, and family testimony regarding relationship losses. Working with experienced wrongful death attorneys ensures proper calculation and thorough documentation of all potential damage categories.

Survival Damages in Wrongful Death Claims

Survival damages represent a distinct category of compensation separate from wrongful death damages. While wrongful death damages compensate the family for their losses, survival damages compensate the estate for losses the deceased person experienced between the time of injury and death.

These damages can include medical expenses incurred during the final injury or illness, lost wages during the period between injury and death, and pain and suffering the deceased endured before passing. In Vermont, the personal representative of the estate pursues survival damages on behalf of the estate, and these damages become part of the estate assets subject to distribution according to Vermont law.

Understanding the distinction between wrongful death and survival damages is crucial for maximizing the total recovery available to grieving families. Our Springfield wrongful death attorneys have extensive experience navigating both types of claims to ensure families receive every dollar they deserve.

How Wrongful Death Proceeds Are Divided

The distribution of wrongful death proceeds in Springfield, VT follows specific legal guidelines. Under Vermont law, the personal representative collects all damages on behalf of the estate and the surviving family members. The court then directs how these proceeds should be distributed among eligible beneficiaries.

Typically, proceeds are divided among the surviving spouse, children, and in some cases, parents or other dependents who relied on the deceased. The distribution considers factors such as the degree of financial dependence on the deceased, the nature of the relationship, and the specific losses each family member suffered. When a deceased person leaves behind minor children, courts pay particular attention to ensuring their future needs are adequately addressed through the settlement or verdict.

The legal process for dividing proceeds can be complex, especially when multiple family members have competing interests or when the deceased died without a will. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys guide families through this sensitive process, ensuring fair distribution while minimizing family conflict during an already difficult time.

Contact Our Springfield Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing a loved one in any kind of accident is devastating, and we know how difficult it can be to consider the possibility of filing a lawsuit when you are grieving. Yet we also know how critical it is to help you seek the financial compensation you need at this incredibly difficult time and how important it is to hold the liable party accountable.

The sooner you begin working with experienced Springfield wrongful death attorneys, the quicker we can begin gathering evidence to support your case and to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Contact Sabbeth Law today and schedule a free consultation for more information.