Not everyone dies of natural causes. Sometimes, the misconduct or negligence of other parties can lead to tragedies. Defective products, violent crimes, preventable car crashes and unsafe facilities can all cause preventable deaths.
Those who have recently lost a loved one due to the bad behavior or overt negligence of a specific person or a business might want to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death lawsuits can provide financial relief and give families the closure of the courts validating that a specific party was to blame for their loss.
Those affected by a recent tragedy often need to explore their options promptly. Otherwise, they may lose the opportunity to seek compensation through the courts.
State law limits litigation
The wrongful death statute in Minnesota requires actionable circumstances and verifiable losses for litigation to occur. Plaintiffs pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit also need to act promptly.
While there are exceptions for unusual scenarios where new information arises long after a tragedy, most wrongful death lawsuits are subject to a strict three-year statute of limitations. The process can be lengthy, as the courts must appoint a trustee to pursue litigation, and the wait for a hearing could take many months.
Family members cannot wait until their grief passes or their lives become stable again to take action. If they delay for too long, they may lose the right to sue.
Partnering with a lawyer allows grieving survivors to focus on rebuilding instead of on the nuances of the legal process. Attorneys can help families gather the evidence they need for litigation and manage the process of preparing for wrongful death lawsuits.