What Should I Do After a Car Wreck Death in Owensboro, KY?

The highly-rated wrongful death lawyer that you hire from Morgan and Morgan determines the type of accident that killed a loved one. Knowing the type of accident is the first step toward proving the other party committed one or more acts of negligence.

T-Bone

A T-bone auto collision happens when one car impacts the side of another vehicle. This type of accident unfolds frequently at intersections where one driver rams into a car that is making a turn. Causes of T-bone auto accidents include distracted driving, driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and reckless driving which can include speeding and running a red light.

Because the sides of a car are the least protected sections of a motor vehicle, a T-bone car accident can cause severe injuries with some of the injuries fatal.

Head-On

Although just two percent of all car accidents involve a head-on collision, more than 10 percent of fatalities result because of this type of vehicle accident. The strong, direct impact of a head-on collision can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries such as brain trauma. Other injuries that can be fatal include internal bleeding and spinal cord damage.

Although an airbag and seat restraint can diminish the impact of a head-on collision, the force of a direct blow can still produce one or more fatal injuries.

Rear-End

A rear-end accident occurs when one car runs into the rear of another motor vehicle. This type of car accident is most common when traffic slows down and a driver fails to slow down in time to account for the rapid decrease in speed. Although many read-end collisions happen at slower speeds in parking lots, they also occur on roads and highways when cars move at or above the posted speed limit.

Read-end collisions can be fatal because of the potential for a victim to sustain serious head and neck injuries.

Dealing with the emotional pain of losing a loved one because of a car accident is enough on your plate to handle. However, you have to know the answer to the question, “What should I do after a car wreck in Owensboro, KY. Since this is probably the first time you have dealt with such a tragic incident, the first step on the following list is the most important step for you to take.

Contact a Kentucky-Licensed Wrongful Death Attorney

Losing a loved one takes the focus off handling the financial affairs that are required to finalize the deceased’s estate. You want to make decisions with a clear head, and that is extremely difficult to do when you have to cope with the loss of a loved one. Hiring an experienced wrongful death lawyer from Morgan and Morgan gives you the clear head you need to make all the right decisions.

The lawyer you hire from Morgan and Morgan conducts a thorough investigation into the status of the estate left behind by your loved one. In addition to handling financial matters, your wrongful death attorney determines whether another party committed one or more acts of negligence that caused the fatal accident. Physical evidence such as photographs of the accident scene and a copy of the formal police report helps your legal counsel determine whether you have a strong enough case to file a wrongful death lawsuit that seeks monetary damages.

Take Control of the Loved One’s Estate

Your loved one should have left behind instructions on how to handle the estate. Instructions for managing an estate can come in the form of a will or trust. A will names the executor of the estate and if you are not the executor, you must inform the person in charge of the estate to initiate the assignment of assets. Executors typically are related to the deceased like a spouse, child, or parent.

If you are the executor of the estate, handing over the financial documents to an attorney can speed up the asset distribution process. The key is to follow the wishes of the deceased loved one, while minimizing the tax implications of distributing assets. A probate court gives the power of managing the estate to the named executor.

Contact the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company

Before you consider filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages, you should notify the at-fault driver’s insurance company about your intent to file a claim. An adjuster from the insurance company immediately starts an investigation into your claim. The wrongful death lawyer representing you from Morgan and Morgan also starts an investigation to gather and organize evidence, as well as interview witnesses.

Your attorney requests copies of your loved one’s medical records, as well as the bills that are associated with the medical records.

As the most devastating type of personal injury case, filing a civil lawsuit can lead to a significant financial award in three categories: Economic, non-economic, and punitive damages

Economic Damages

The easiest type of monetary damages to receive from a judge’s decision concern tangible expenses such as medical bills. Healthcare expenses can increase quickly, especially for a wrongful death case because of the costs associated with trying to save a victim’s life. You have the right to ask the judge or jury hearing your case to award economic damages that cover the costs of diagnostic tests, treatment programs, and physical therapy sessions.

You also should ask the court to award you compensation to pay for the funeral and burial of your loved one.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the intangible costs associated with mental and emotional distress. Losing a loved one often triggers tremendous mental and emotional trauma. Grief alone can leave a family member numb for weeks or even months after a loved one dies. When the news involves a death that could have been prevented by the driver of another motor vehicle, grief morphs into unhealthy thoughts of anger.

Since non-economic damages do not come with a price tag, your wrongful death lawyer calculates a reasonable value that includes the value of economic damages in a standard formula. Non-economic damages for a wrongful death case usually exceed the monetary damages awarded for every other type of personal injury case.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages do not cover economic and non-economic damages. Judges and juries award punitive damages to punish the defendant for committing one or more acts of negligence. Punitive damages awarded for wrongful death cases can be more than the combined value of economic and non-economic damages.

The awarding of punitive damages also deters the defendant from committing the same act of negligence again. For example, if a reckless driver caused a fatal accident, awarding a substantial value for punitive damages should deter the defendant from committing the same reckless driving practices.

One of the most important criteria for choosing a wrongful death lawyer is experience litigating wrongful death cases. The experience compiled by an attorney must include a high percentage of wins for the awarding of monetary damages. You want to work with a wrongful death lawyer who handles your case from start to finish. At Morgan and Morgan, the wrongful death lawyer assigned to your case provides legal support from the day of the free case evaluation to the day when your case is resolved.

Hiring legal counsel that has a proven record of success over many years and is dedicated to your case from start to finish is just one way to measure the credentials of a wrongful death attorney. At Morgan and Morgan, in addition to bringing skills and knowledge to the table, we also provide emotional support for clients who are reeling from the news of the death of a loved one.

Get Legal Support From Morgan and Morgan

Losing a loved one from a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver can take years or a lifetime to mend all the emotional wounds. Hiring the team of wrongful death attorneys from Morgan and Morgan allows you to grieve and still pursue legal action against another party. You also gain an advocate when the time comes to file an insurance claim.

Schedule a free case evaluation today to get the legal support that you deserve.