Choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC is immensely important. The right attorney will provide strategic representation to maximize the compensation for you and your family. Note that a wrongful death claim is distinct from a survival action, which is brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate. A survival action is a statutory claim not existing in the common law, which allows the right to sue the tortfeasor to survive beyond the decedent’s death. Meanwhile, a DC wrongful death claim is a claim that can only be made by a close family member. The DC Wrongful Death Act limits the right to pursue this claim. More extended family members are likely unable to make a claim due to the restrictions under this statute. However, a parent, child, or spouse of the decedent may still be able to make a claim.
A wrongful death claim or lawsuit follows an intricate process that can be overwhelming, particularly for grieving family members. When you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, your focus should be on grieving, processing, and eventually moving forward. The last thing you want to worry about is a lawsuit or claims process that takes several months or years. By choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC, you know you can count on this process to be handled swiftly and effectively. The issue you may run into, especially if you have never hired a personal injury attorney before, is knowing who to turn to. There are loads of marketing online discussing who the best DC wrongful death lawyer is. The truth is there are several that are excellent. Below, we list the criteria to consider when researching the right lawyer for you.
Choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC that will deliver the results you need is not always easy. The correct attorney will advocate for fair compensation. The right lawyer will provide emotional support and compassion as you go through possibly the most challenging time in your life. The wrongful death attorneys at Gelb & Gelb, P.C. will help you navigate the legal complexities that stand between you and the justice and compensation you deserve. In most instances, a wrongful death claim is not about delivering justice against the tortfeasor. However, if the tortfeasor acted intentionally, then we will seek punitive damages, which are meant to punish and deter. However, as in a DC car accident, the defendant acted negligently most of the time.
Thus, our course of action is to seek compensation to make you “whole.” The importance of choosing the right lawyer lies in your lawyer understanding all of your ailments. Any emotional trauma that we can causally relate to the death of your family member is compensable. If it was your parent who passed away due to the negligent conduct, you are losing out on a lifetime of parental training and guidance. We will fight to win you compensation for that.
We propose three criteria for selecting a wrongful death lawyer in DC.
Experience in any industry is critical. However, when choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC, you must ensure your attorney has adequate experience to handle such a crucial case. As is true in any field, experience in practicing personal injury law provides an attorney with a depth of knowledge. Only through experience can an attorney possess a deep, nuanced understanding of the field. Wrongful death cases can be caused by nearly anything. Thus, your attorney should not only be proficient in handling one type of personal injury matter, such as motor vehicle accidents. Even if your loved one passed in a motor vehicle accident, a wrongful death claim is far more complex. There are unique statutes that apply solely to death cases, but they do not apply to most other injury cases in the District.
Experience also lends itself well to efficacy. While there is never a guarantee that an attorney will be effective unless you have personal experience working with that attorney, experience is among the best indicators. While there are no doubt some ineffective attorneys with experience, the majority of incompetent attorneys will have been weeded out over time if they practice long enough.
Choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC with experience is not enough if the attorney is unresponsive. An unresponsive attorney does not answer questions when you have them. An unresponsive attorney may be a disorganized attorney. Disorganized attorneys miss deadlines and blow your case. So, how can you tell if an attorney is responsive? The truth is there is never a guarantee if you have never worked with an attorney before and you cannot get a referral from a trusted resource. However, understand that just because an attorney is responsive prior to signing you as a client does not mean they will be present throughout your case. However, one great way to eliminate attorneys from consideration is if they are unresponsive from the start. If that is the case, it is a bad sign and one to avoid.
Our attorneys at Gelb & Gelb, P.C. take pride in our responsiveness. We ensure that you can reach our office via phone 24/7 and your attorney seven days a week. If you have an urgent matter that you need an attorney to address in your wrongful death claim, you are guaranteed a callback seven days a week. This is one attribute that distinguishes us from other firms in the area.
When choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC, it is critical to seek an attorney who will aggressively pursue your case. In a wrongful death case, the tortfeasor costs the life of your loved one. Our attorneys do not take that lightly. After we carefully consider the facts of your case and weigh the evidence available, we will assess the value that we will recommend you accept as a settlement offer. While accepting a settlement offer is always the decision of the client, we will advise whether to accept or reject an offer.
If we believe your case is worth more than the insurance provider is offering, we will fight to maximize your compensation. While it may be easier for everyone to accept a settlement offer and move on, and we will do that if that is your decision, we believe that a wrongful death case is among the most severe types of cases in the law. Accordingly, we will do everything we can to pursue your claim and fight for your compensation aggressively.
As mentioned above, when evaluating potential lawyers, consider experience, responsiveness, and aggressive pursuit. Beyond that, consider the Google reviews listed for that law firm. Read the reviews to understand the opinions of past clients and whether their values align with yours. A highly-rated law firm in DC may be proficient at personal injury law yet does not handle cases however you prefer. Ensure you are comfortable with your attorney and trust their recommendations before proceeding.
When choosing a wrongful death lawyer in DC, consider the suggestions we have listed above. If you have a family member who recently passed due to the negligent or intentional conduct of a third party, call our leading personal injury attorneys immediately. Our initial consultation is always free.