Vermont Wrongful Death Lawyer Serving Families in Hartford

Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult and devastating under any circumstances. At Sabbeth Law, we know that it may not seem possible to think about anything beyond your grief in the days, weeks, and even months after a loved one’s death. Yet when a family member’s death results from another party’s negligence, it is important to hold the at-fault party accountable. Outside of criminal prosecution, the civil damages allows the only justice that can be had.  It reinforces and validates that the bad actor indeed acted badly and often causes changes in the way people and companies act to prevent future similar incidents.  Sabbeth Law routinely represents families in wrongful death claims arising out of truck accidents, car crashes, and other types of accident and injury cases. An experienced Hartford wrongful death lawyer can speak with you today about your case and whether you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. 

What is a Wrongful Death in Hartford, VT?

vermont-wrongful-death-lawyer

Under Vermont law, when a person dies because of “the wrongful act, neglect, or default of a person or corporation, and the act, neglect or default is such as would have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, if death had not ensued,” then a wrongful death lawsuit may be possible.

To put that statutory language another way, wrongful death law is an area of the law that is closely connected to personal injury law. In personal injury law, the law says that an injured person has a right to seek compensation by filing a lawsuit against the party whose negligence caused his or her injuries. In a wrongful death case, the law recognizes that the injured party did not survive. Yet that person who suffered fatal injuries should still have a right to seek compensation. Accordingly, wrongful death law allows a personal representative of the deceased to step into the shoes, metaphorically, of the deceased in order to file a claim against the at-fault party.

Who is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Case in Hartford and White River Junction?

In Vermont, a personal representative of the deceased must be the one to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If the deceased did not name a personal representative in estate planning documents, the court can appoint a personal representative.

While a personal representative may file the lawsuit, the family members of the deceased are eligible to receive damages. 

Statute of Limitations in a Hartford, VT Wrongful Death Case

Vermont’s wrongful death law comes with a two-year statute of limitations. What this means is that a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of the deceased’s death in order for the surviving family members to remain eligible for financial compensation. By working with a Vermont wrongful death attorney, you can ensure that the lawsuit will be filed in a timely manner.

Hartford Wrongful Death Damages

Surviving family members may be eligible to receive two types of compensatory damages known as economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages provide compensation for direct, financial losses like hospital bills and funeral expenses, while non-economic damages provide compensation for losses that are difficult to place a value on, such as the pain of losing a loved one. Examples of both types of compensatory damages may include but are not limited to:

  • Hospital bills;
  • Lost wages;
  • Funeral expenses;
  • Burial costs;
  • Compensation for loss of love and companionship; and
    • For example, how this loss will affect the intangible things that created bonds between people that have been permanently severed by the wrongful death of a loved one.
  • Compensation for loss of a parent-child relationship.
    • Exactly as it sounds.  

Contact a Hartford and White River JunctionWrongful Death Attorney

Accidents involving the death of a loved one are devastating. We know how difficult it can be to think about filing a lawsuit while you are grieving the death of a parent, a spouse, or another family member. Yet we also know that it is extremely important to hold the at-fault party accountable and to seek financial compensation for your losses. The dedicated team at Sabbeth Law has significant experience specializing in trucking and commercial motor vehicle cases in addition to other types of injury cases.

We are members of various professional associations, including the Association of Truck Accident Lawyers, AAJ Trucking Litigation Group, and the National Trial Lawyers Top Truck Accident Lawyers. When you have been injured in a collision or another on-site accident, we make sure to get to the scene of your injury as soon as possible. When we prepare for injury cases, we use the best experts in the U.S., and we are have achieved seven-figure and eight-figure results for our injured clients and their families. We were made to handle these complex injury cases, and we will go to you if you cannot reach our firm. An experienced Hartford and White River Junction wrongful death attorney can begin working with you on your case today. Contact Sabbeth Law for more information.