A Virginia Beach Injury Lawyer's Advice About Wrongful Death Claims

Virginia (VA), like most states, has laws stating that a person or corporation whose negligence caused a person to die can, and should, be held responsible for the harms and losses their negligence produced. Sections 8.01-50 through §8.01-244 of the Code of Virginia set forth the rules for bringing wrongful death claims.

Among the most important legal rules in VA is that a wrongful death lawsuit can only be filed by a personal representative of the estate of the person killed wrongfully. Also, more than one person or company can be named as defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit. So, for example, if your loved one was killed in a car wreck and there is the possibility that both the at-fault driver (let's say they were speeding) and a mechanical issue (e.g., defective brakes) were the cause, then we could potentially file a wrongful death suit against both the driver and the manufacturer of the car.

Under the law, the personal representative and the beneficiaries who will receive any money recovered in the case can be the decedent's husband, wife and/or children. If no such relatives survive, the parents, brothers and/or sisters of the wrongful death victim can be recognized by a court as the persons who get the money from the lawsuit.

Wrongful death damage claims permitted under the Virginia wrongful death statutes include payments for medical treatments administered before the victim died, funeral bills and loss of future income for individuals who were financially dependent on the deceased person.

Monetary awards can also be pursued for loss of companionship and loss of care, love, guidance and advice. In certain circumstances, there can even be damages for punishing a wrongdoer whose conduct in causing or contributing to the wrongful death was reckless. These are called punitive damages and are meant to send a message to the at-fault party, and the community at-large, that the reckless behavior which caused the death of your loved one is unacceptable and will be punished harshly.

To learn more about Virginia wrongful death claims, read this free report written by a Virginia wrongful death lawyer who has over 20 years of experience.

In addition, take a moment to watch this video describing how our firm was recognized as one of the best personal injury law firms in Virginia.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling wrongful death cases. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if your family member or loved one was killed as a result of someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Form since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms.

Our VA personal injury firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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A Virginia Beach Injury Lawyer's Advice About Wrongful Death Claims