Wrongful Death Lawyer in Reno

The loss of a loved one due to the negligence of another is never okay, but fighting insurance companies for justice is challenging. With the guidance of a skilled wrongful death lawyer in Reno, you gain the upper hand and ensure you are never taken advantage of again. 

At Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers, our Reno personal injury lawyer empowers families, giving them the legal advantage in fighting for fair treatment after such a horrible outcome. We have more than 150 years of combined experience.

The Importance of a Reno Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one before their time under any circumstances is an immense tragedy, but going through this kind of experience solely because a third party was reckless or careless can make it exponentially more traumatic. 

In the wake of an accident of this nature, it is more than understandable to be unsure of your legal rights, how best to go about enforcing them, and how to manage your emotions throughout a long and legally complex process. Help is available from a capable and compassionate Reno wrongful death lawyer who knows how tough these situations can be and how to handle them tactfully and proactively.

From the beginning to the end of your legal proceedings, your dedicated personal injury attorney could ensure your family’s rights are respected and tenaciously pursue every cent of the compensation you deserve for the loss you should never have had to deal with. 

Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers is a personal injury law firm that represents clients seeking compensation for the death of a loved one or family member when negligence is involved in Reno, NV. We have a vast legal team with experience in wrongful death claims and lawsuits. We fight for maximum compensation in all wrongful death claims. 

Need Legal Help?

We’re here to guide you and fight for the benefits you deserve. (775) 508-5337

Why Choose Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers as Your Wrongful Death Legal Firm

We have spent nearly 30 years fighting for victims of personal injury, helping over 30,000 clients to fight back against those who hurt them. For families of wrongful death, there is no simple way forward, and no amount of recovery of damages makes it better. Yet, when you hire our wrongful death lawyer in Reno, you gain several key advantages:

• Proven experience. We have recovered over $1 billion in damages for our clients. That experience enables us to fight for you.
• Client referrals and testimonials. Take the time to find out what our clients are saying about us, and you will find that we consistently provide exceptional service and reliable communication.
• A strong reputation for getting results. When you hire our team, you gain an attorney with a strong reputation in the local courts.

We care about our clients and the outcome of their case. As wrongful death lawyers, we fight tirelessly to protect the rights of families who are seeking justice for a lost loved one. Let us be there for you.

The Compensation Benefits You Deserve

We’ll help you win the benefits you need to get your life back. (775) 508-5337

Accidents Resulting in Wrongful Death

Any situation in which a person dies as a result of another person’s negligence could lead to a wrongful death lawsuit. There are numerous situations that could lead to such an incident. Our lawyers have represented families who have lost a loved one in all types of accidents and settings in Reno, such as:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bus Accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Mass gatherings (concerts, amusement parks, outdoor events)
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip & fall accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home negligence or abuse

If you have lost a loved one in an accident or due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. We will review your case and explain your legal options. Our comprehensive review process examines all aspects of the incident to gather comprehensive information to build a strong, evidence-based claim. If we can prove wrongful death, we will. 

Difference Between Wrongful Death and Other Personal Injury Claims

There are differences in filing a wrongful death claim over other types of personal injury claims. The biggest difference is the loss of life, which makes calculating losses much more challenging. The victim’s family must seek legal action, which can be challenging when you may not know the details of what occurred or who was responsible.

The damages recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit differ because they cover not only everything the deceased party would have recovered had they lived, but also the losses associated with their death. The family’s losses are also included in the claim, such as the loss of companionship and the loss of future income.

While a personal injury lawsuit aims to make the victim whole again, that is impossible to do in a wrongful death case. The result is that the wrongful death lawsuit addresses the emotional and financial impact that the death has on those who survive, such as dependents. These differences make it very important for you to choose a Reno wrongful death lawyer with experience handling these complex cases. 

How a Reno Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help

Losing a loved one is an emotionally devastating experience, and the last thing you want to do is deal with the legal process of filing a claim. However, taking legal action may be the only way to obtain the compensation your family needs and deserves. An experienced wrongful death attorney in Reno at our firm can guide you through every step of the process, allowing you to focus on your recovery. We will:

• Investigate the accident
• Gather evidence
• Build a strong case for compensation

Your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance companies and at-fault parties on your behalf so that you can focus on your grieving process. Talk to our Reno car accident lawyer today about your case.

Rules for Filing Wrongful Death Claims in Nevada

A typical personal injury claim aims to help the injured person recover physically, financially, and emotionally from their accident by compensating them for specific losses they have suffered and expect to suffer in the future. 

The purpose of a wrongful death claim is also to provide reimbursement for specific losses stemming from someone else’s negligence. Still, the parties being reimbursed are instead immediate family members of the deceased person. In Nevada, the following individuals may have standing to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim:

• The decedent’s surviving spouse or domestic partner or the decedent’s child(ren)
• The decedent’s parents
• The decedent’s siblings
• The decedent’s next closest surviving family member

The decedent’s “personal representative” for their estate may also file a claim under certain circumstances, as a qualified lawyer could explain. Regardless of who pursues the claim, though, Nevada Revised Statutes § 11.190 typically requires them to file suit within two years of the decedent’s death. Otherwise, they may be “time-barred” from getting any compensation whatsoever.

The Damages That Can Be Recovered

Eligible family members of fatal accident victims can seek restitution for both economic and non-economic forms of harm they will experience due to their loved one’s death. Compensable economic losses may include lost financial support and the loss of benefits, such as health insurance. 

Non-economic damages may include lost companionship and care, emotional anguish, and pain and suffering experienced by the decedent between when they were injured and when they ultimately passed away from those injuries.

If a decedent’s personal representative is involved in a wrongful death claim, they can seek compensation on behalf of the decedent’s estate for things like funeral and burial expenses, as well as the costs of medical care the decedent receives between their initial injury and their death.

In some situations, the court may impose additional “punitive damages” against a defendant to punish them for their extremely irresponsible or malicious actions, something a seasoned wrongful death lawyer in Reno could go into further detail about as needed. Our resources section has more information about wrongful death cases.

How We Calculate Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

In a wrongful death claim, it is essential for family members to seek extensive compensation. To calculate the value, we consider factors such as a person’s age, expected lifespan, and earning capacity. It is also important for our clients to understand how this loss will impact their lives, including raising a family, making contributions to retirement, investment, and inheritance accounts.

Nevada Modified Comparative Fault in Wrongful Death Cases

In a wrongful death lawsuit, the court will determine who was at fault for the accident or incident that led to the death. The court will assign a percentage of fault to each party under Nevada’s comparative negligence (NRS Chapter 41). 

For example, if the court finds that the deceased was 50% at fault for the accident and the other driver was 50% at fault, then the deceased’s family would only be able to recover 50% of the damages.

This is known as the modified comparative fault rule. It is important to note that if the court finds that the deceased was 51% or more at fault, then the family will not be able to recover any damages. 

Proving Negligence in a Wrongful Death Case

One of the most important ways our Reno wrongful death lawyer will guide you through this legal process is to demonstrate without fail who is at fault. To do that, we must prove all elements of negligence, as defined by the law. This includes:

• Demonstrate duty of care. The person or business owed your loved one the expectation of safety.
• Breach of duty of care. In some way, the defendant failed to meet that duty of care, such as by not abiding by the law or by not acting as expected.
• The breach caused the accident. There must be a clear link between the breach of duty of care and the accident.
• Losses. You suffered losses as a result of the accident, in which case, that includes the loss of a family member.

Proving each one of these areas requires careful evidence-building, industry experience, and an understanding of your needs. Expect our Reno wrongful death attorney to work aggressively to build your claim at each of these levels.

What Not to Do When Filing a Wrongful Death Claim or Lawsuit

As soon as you contact our team, you gain the upper hand in pursuing full and fair compensation for the loss of your loved one. Yet, we always work with our clients to ensure their rights are protected from simple mistakes. There are a few things you should not do if you plan on filing a wrongful death claim:

• Do not sign any documents from the insurance company without first consulting with an attorney. The insurance company will likely try to get you to sign away your rights to compensation by offering a quick settlement.
• Do not accept any settlement offers without first speaking with an attorney. The insurance company’s goal is to settle your case for as little money as possible. A dedicated attorney can help you get the full compensation you deserve.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance company. Anything you say can and will be used against you.

It is best to let your lawyer handle all communication with the insurance company, and that means allowing our wrongful death attorney to fight to protect your rights and get full and fair justice for your loved one. This is not a fight you have to do on your own, and you simply cannot trust just anyone with it. 

Hire a Reno Wrongful Death Attorney to Protect Your Future

No amount of money can make up for a loved one’s life being unfairly cut short. What civil compensation can do, though, is help stabilize your family’s finances and protect your long-term interests in the aftermath of such an incomparable tragedy.

A Reno wrongful death lawyer at Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers could provide custom-tailored guidance and support throughout whatever course of action you choose to take. Call today to discuss your options with one of our caring legal professionals.