If you lost a loved one in a fatal accident in Edina, MN, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Call an experienced Edina wrongful death lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you get compensation for medical bills, loss of financial support, and your family’s pain and suffering at (952) 697-5560.
Our respected lawyers have over 80 years of combined experience protecting the rights of grieving families like yours. In the process, we’ve recovered over $90 million to give our clients the fresh start they deserve in cases such as Edina Catastrophic Injuries, Brain Injuries, Edina motorcycle accidents, Dog Bites, Nursing Home Abuse, and more.
The loss of a loved one is always overwhelming. Contact our law offices in Edina, Minnesota to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how a lawyer can help.
Why Should I Hire Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys To Handle My Wrongful Death Case in Edina?
Wrongful death claims are more complex than your average personal injury case. Insurance companies know that a significant amount of money is at stake. They’ll pour all of their resources into fighting your claim–even if they seem sympathetic.
It’s important to have an experienced Edina personal injury lawyer on your team. Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys is an award-winning personal injury firm. Our awards include Minnesota Lawyer’s “Attorney of the Year” for 2021. We’ve also been recognized with an AV-Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell and a Perfect-10.0 (Super B) Avvo rating.
Our lawyers will build your case by:
- Investigating and gathering evidence
- Working with leading experts and specialists
- Calculating your case value
- Helping you understand your legal rights and options
- Protecting you from unfair allegations and blame-shifting strategies
- Identifying the specific losses you have suffered
- Handling all insurance negotiations and paperwork
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Edina personal injury attorneys for a free consultation today. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you never pay attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation in your case.
How Common Are Deadly Accidents in Minnesota?
Deadly accidents happen every day in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), 394 fatal motor vehicle accidents were reported across the state of Minnesota in 2020.
80 work-related fatalities were reported across Minnesota in 2021. Fall-related fatalities for older adults in Minnesota are also among the highest in the nation, according to the Minnesota Safety Council.
Overview of Minnesota’s Wrongful Death Laws
When someone is injured in an accident, they have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation from the responsible parties.
Of course, not all injury victims survive. Under Minnesota law, their right to pursue compensation doesn’t simply disappear. Instead, the deceased person’s survivors receive the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
A “wrongful death” is a death caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or wrongful act or omission.
Wrongful death lawsuits are civil matters. Most of the time, these cases are based on accidents. However, it is possible that the responsible party could also face criminal charges. The two types of cases are completely separate.
Wrongful death laws give survivors the right to seek compensation regardless of whether someone died due to negligence or intent to kill. Criminal laws, on the other hand, are concerned with punishing the defendant for criminal acts.
Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Minnesota?
Minnesota wrongful death laws are complicated. It’s important to have an experienced attorney by your side to handle the procedural issues. Only certain parties are allowed to file an action for wrongful death.
In Minnesota, those parties include:
- A surviving spouse
- The decedent’s parents
- Children, if the deceased person did not have a surviving spouse
- Siblings, if the deceased person did not have a surviving spouse, child, or parent
To take legal action, any of these surviving family members can petition the courts to appoint a trustee. The trustee formally files the lawsuit on behalf of surviving family members. The family can either choose a trustee or ask the court to appoint someone.
The trustee acts on behalf of the surviving family members. Any compensation recovered in the wrongful death case is distributed among the survivors in accordance with the deceased person’s will or state intestate laws.
What Is My Edina Wrongful Death Case Worth?
The value of your wrongful death case will depend on many unique factors, including:
- The circumstances of the accident
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy at the time of death
- Your loved one’s earning capacity and contributions to the household
- The identities of survivors, including minor children
- How your family is struggling in the aftermath of your loss
- The nature of the responsible party’s acts
- Your loved one’s suffering prior to death
- The costs you have incurred for medical treatment and funeral costs
- Whether your loved one shares any blame
You can count on our Edina wrongful death attorneys to build a case that accurately represents your losses. We’re always here to discuss your case, so call our law firm for a free case review today.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover If My Wrongful Death Claim Is Successful?
Our lawyers will seek fair compensation for the full range of damages and losses your family has suffered.
Your family may be entitled to compensation for:
- Your loved one’s medical expenses from the time of injury to the time of death
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- The administrative expenses associated with administering an estate
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of the value of household services
- Loss of inheritance
- Property damage caused by the accident
- Your family’s emotional distress and suffering
- Loss of parental guidance
- Loss of consortium, or loss of a spouse’s company and support
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering prior to death
- Punitive damages if the defendant’s acts were extremely shocking or intentional
Our number one goal is to help your family recover the just compensation you deserve. We’re here to help you identify your losses and prove their value.
How Can a Lawyer Help If My Family Member Is Being Blamed for Causing Their Own Death in Minnesota?
Minnesota follows modified comparative negligence rules. If your family member shared most of the blame for the accident, you won’t be entitled to recover damages to cover your losses. If they were only slightly responsible, however, you can still take home a portion of your compensation. Your compensation will be reduced in proportion to their share of fault.
Your family member isn’t here to tell their side of the story. Insurance companies often try to exploit that fact by blaming the victim for their own death. If they succeed, your family could walk away with nothing at all. That makes it critical to have an experienced lawyer who can investigate and find out what happened.
Our lawyers at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys will work hard to minimize the impact of these “blame the victim” tactics. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Fatal Accidents in Edina, Minnesota?
Our lawyers in Edina represent families in all types of wrongful death cases, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Sports accidents
- Firearm violence
- Assault
- Workplace and construction site accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Accidents involving recreational vehicles
- Boating accidents
- Snowmobile accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
In other words, most wrongful deaths are caused by accidents. In turn, deadly accidents typically happen because someone was careless or reckless.
How Do I Prove Fault If I Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Accident in Minnesota?
Most wrongful death claims are based on negligence.
To prove negligence, as a surviving family member, you must establish four elements:
- Someone else owed your loved one a legal duty of care
- By some act or omission, they breached the duty of care
- The breach of duty caused their death
- You suffered damages because of your loss
The thought of gathering evidence to prove your claim can be overwhelming. Our lawyers will handle the investigation and all other legal issues while you focus on your family.
What Happens If I Wait Too Long To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Minnesota?
You could lose your right to compensation entirely if you miss the statutory deadline.
Minnesota’s statute of limitations is highly complex. It’s best to consult an attorney in Edina to discuss your case and the deadline that may apply. Contact us today to learn more and preserve your legal rights.
Contact an Edina Wrongful Death Lawyer To Arrange a Free Consultation Today
Our compassionate lawyers understand that things are difficult after you lose a loved one. We’re here to offer legal guidance and support. To learn more about how an Edina wrongful death lawyer can help your family through this difficult time, call Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation today.
Our personal injury law firm in Edina, MN, also provides:
- Car Accident Lawyers in Edina, MN
- Catastrophic Attorney in Edina
- Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Edina
- Brain Injury Attorney in Edina, MN
- Dog Bite Lawyers in Edina
- Motorcycle Lawyer in Edina, MN
- Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Edina
- Truck Accident Lawyer in Edina
