Losing someone you love in a drunk driving crash is devastating. You may not be sure how to move forward or what to expect from the other party.
After a wrongful death, it is reasonable to want the drunk driver to compensate your family for what it has gone through. It’s reasonable to ask that they cover costs associated with your loved one’s medical care and funeral costs. To get this compensation, you need to start a wrongful death claim.
What should you do after a loved one’s wrongful death?
If your loved one has died after a drunk driving crash, the first thing you should do is start gathering medical documentation and police reports. These are documents that you should give to your attorney, who is the first person to call once your loved one has passed. If you were already working with an attorney on their case due to their injuries, let that attorney know that they have passed away from their injuries.
After that, the next step to take is to have the attorney reach out to the other party’s insurance company. While drunk driving is a sign of negligence, many people who do it still have insurance on their vehicles. The first thing to do is to try to make a claim through that insurance carrier. If the driver does not have insurance, then you will need to look into filing a wrongful death lawsuit in court.
Next, talk to the attorney about the costs that are going into your loved one’s funeral and final expenses. These are factors that make a difference in how much money you seek in your claim.
The insurance company may come back with an offer to settle the case. Your attorney will go over that offer with you if so, and they’ll let you know if they believe that it’s reasonable. This is something to go over carefully, because if you do accept a settlement offer, then you won’t be able to pursue a lawsuit at a later date.
These are just a few steps to take after losing a loved one in a drunk driving crash. Your attorney can help walk you through the steps when you get in touch.