Charlotte Wrongful Death Lawyer
Did you lose a loved one in a fatal accident in Charlotte, NC? The loss of a loved one is always overwhelming. While we can’t bring them back, a Charlotte wrongful death lawyer can help you fight for fair compensation.
Our team at Chandler | Volta Personal Injury Lawyers will help you seek compensation for loss of financial support, loss of your loved one’s companionship, pain, suffering, and more.
Our lawyers have already helped families like yours recover over $35 million in financial compensation. We bring over 32 years of combined experience in personal injury law to the table.
If you recently lost a family member in an accident, contact our law offices in Charlotte, North Carolina today to schedule a free consultation.
How Can Chandler | Volta Personal Injury Lawyers Help Your Family After a Deadly Accident in Charlotte, NC?
The death of a loved one is difficult enough. The anger and frustration can seem unbearable when that loss was caused by someone else’s carelessness. Most accident-related deaths are completely preventable. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, you have options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
Chandler | Volta Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our Charlotte personal injury lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers for our exceptional legal representation.
When you trust us to handle your case, we will:
- Gather evidence to prove who and what caused your loved one’s death
- Assess your case value and reject lowball settlement deals
- Protect you from unfair insurance tactics
- Handle all paperwork and communications
- Bring in experts who can strengthen your claim
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full financial settlement
You don’t have to handle the difficult legal issues alone. Call our Charlotte personal injury attorneys to learn more about how we can help.
Overview of North Carolina’s Wrongful Death Laws
North Carolina wrongful death laws define a wrongful death as one that is caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another.
When an accident happens, injured victims can sue the at-fault parties for damages. The right to seek compensation doesn’t disappear if the victim dies from their injuries. Instead, the right to sue for damages is transferred to survivors.
Many types of events can give survivors the right to sue for wrongful death, including:
- Accidents that happen because of someone else’s negligence
- Medical malpractice
- Intentional criminal acts
Wrongful death cases are handled in civil courts. While criminal courts may also impose criminal penalties, the remedy for wrongful death is financial compensation.
Under North Carolina law, the deceased person’s personal representative files the wrongful death lawsuit. Typically, the personal representative is named in the decedent’s will. If the decedent didn’t have a will, the court can appoint someone to serve. A surviving spouse, children, or parents of the victim are common choices.
How Common Are Fatal Accidents in North Carolina?
Deadly accidents happen in the state of North Carolina every day.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, 2,938 people died in motor vehicle accidents across North Carolina in 2021. 179 people died in work-related accidents that year. Thousands more die in fall-related accidents each year.
What is My Charlotte Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Many different factors must be accounted for in calculating your case value.
Factors that our lawyers will consider when calculating your case value include:
- The circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death
- The financial losses your family has experienced
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy at the time of death
- The identities of surviving dependents, including young children
- The pain, suffering, and fear your loved one endured prior to death
- How the loss has impacted your family
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
The loss of a loved one is a devastating event. Money can never fully compensate for that loss. However, it can secure your family’s future. It can also bring your family a sense of justice.
We know that putting a dollar value on a life is extremely difficult. Our lawyers in Charlotte have handled cases like yours before–and we’re well-prepared to help you fight for what’s fair. Give us a call today to start the legal process and learn more.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Successful Wrongful Death Case?
As in any personal injury case, both economic damages and non-economic damages are available in a successful wrongful death case.
Examples of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive include:
- The cost of your loved one’s medical care from the date of injury to the date of death
- Funeral costs and burial expenses
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of your loved one’s income and financial support
- Loss of your loved one’s services, protection, care, and assistance
- Loss of support, guidance, advice, and companionship
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may also be available if there is clear evidence that your loved one died due to someone’s intentional acts or wanton disregard for human life. These damages are meant to punish the defendant and prevent similar acts in the future rather than to compensate the family.
Can My Family Recover Damages If My Loved One is Being Blamed for Causing Their Own Death in North Carolina?
North Carolina follows a strict pure contributory negligence law. Even if the defendant was 99% responsible for causing your loved one’s death, you cannot recover damages if your loved one was even 1% responsible for their own death.
The defendant has the burden of proving that your loved one was partly responsible for their own death. They must prove a direct causal link between the decedent’s acts and their death.
That can be a heavy burden. Still, you should expect the insurance company to try to pin at least some of the blame on your loved one. If they succeed, they’ll be let off the hook for paying your damages.
Contact our Charlotte wrongful death attorneys to learn more about how we can defend against any allegations that your loved one was responsible for causing their own death.
What Causes Most Deadly Accidents in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Any traumatic accident can prove deadly if it’s serious enough.
At Chandler | Volta Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of wrongful death claims in North Carolina, including cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Medical negligence
- Gun violence
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Negligent security and dangerous property conditions (premises liability)
- Assault
- Sexual assault
You may have a valid claim for compensation anytime someone else’s acts or omissions caused your loved one’s death. Contact our lawyers in Charlotte to learn more about your right to compensation today.
Do I Have to Prove Negligence to Recover Compensation After a Fatal Accident in North Carolina?
Most wrongful death suits involve accidents. In these cases, most defendants didn’t intend to kill anyone but were careless and caused a death anyway. They can still be held accountable for their negligence.
Negligence means that:
- The defendant owed your loved one a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- The breach of duty was the direct cause of your loved one’s death
If you can prove each of these elements, you can recover compensation for your family’s damages.
The person responsible probably won’t step forward and admit fault. Even if they do, their insurance company will likely argue that something else was the true cause of your loved one’s death.
Our lawyers are here to step in and prove you deserve compensation.
We’ll search for any available evidence in your case, including:
- Eyewitnesses who can testify about what they saw
- Photos of the accident scene
- Medical records
- Police and accident reports
- Citations issued in connection with an accident
- Video surveillance footage
- Cell phone records
- Drug and alcohol testing results
- Opinions from accident reconstruction specialists and other experts
While you focus on healing, our wrongful death lawyers in Charlotte will build your case using the strongest possible evidence. Call our law firm today to get started.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Deadly Accident in North Carolina?
The statute of limitations in North Carolina is two years for wrongful death cases. The two-year statute of limitations starts to run on the date of your loved one’s death.
Don’t let the deadline in your case pass. Once the statute of limitations expires, you give up your right to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact a Charlotte Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Grieving the loss of a loved one can take all of the energy you have. You shouldn’t have to deal with added financial stress on top of it. Call Chandler | Volta Personal Injury Lawyers today if you lost a loved one because of someone else’s actions. An experienced Charlotte wrongful death lawyer can help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve.