Did you lose a loved one due to someone else’s negligence in Minneapolis, Minnesota? You may be entitled to significant compensation from the party responsible. An experienced Minneapolis wrongful death lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you identify every liable party and pursue full compensation for your family’s losses. Call (800) 292-1979 for a free consultation.
Why Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys Is an Excellent Choice to Handle Your Wrongful Death Case in Minneapolis, MN
Losing a loved one is devastating enough without having to navigate a legal claim on top of your grief. You need a firm that will handle the legal fight so your family can focus on healing.
Here’s why families trust the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys:
- We bring over 80 years of combined experience to your case
- We’ve recovered over $90 million for injured clients and grieving families
- We examine every insurance policy involved to identify all available sources of compensation
- Every client gets one-on-one attention, not merely a case number
- We work on a contingency fee basis, so we only collect a fee if we win
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a Minneapolis wrongful death attorney.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Wrongful Death in Minneapolis?
The person who directly caused a fatal accident is not necessarily the only party who can be held responsible. Minnesota wrongful death cases can involve multiple defendants, particularly when an employer, business, property owner, or other entity contributed to the circumstances that caused the death.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- Negligent drivers who cause fatal car, motorcycle, pedestrian, or bicycle accidents
- Truck drivers and trucking companies responsible for deadly commercial vehicle crashes
- Employers whose employees cause fatal accidents while performing work-related duties
- Property owners and managers who fail to correct or warn visitors about dangerous conditions
- Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers responsible for defective or dangerous products
- Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other healthcare providers whose negligence causes a patient’s death
- Contractors, subcontractors, or equipment manufacturers responsible for dangerous workplace conditions or defective equipment
- Government agencies or entities responsible for certain dangerous roads, vehicles, properties, or public facilities
More than one of these parties may share liability for the same death. Identifying everyone who contributed to the fatal incident can also reveal additional insurance policies and other potential sources of compensation.
How Does the Cause of Death Affect Who Can Be Held Liable?
The circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death will determine who may be named as a defendant. An attorney will typically investigate how the fatal event occurred and the actions of each person or entity involved.
Common defendants include:
- Car accidents and truck accidents – the at-fault driver, their employer if driving for work, or a trucking company responsible for negligent hiring or maintenance.
- Premises liability incidents – a property owner or manager who failed to maintain safe conditions.
- Defective products – a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer responsible for a dangerous product.
- Medical malpractice – a doctor, nurse, hospital, or other healthcare provider who deviated from the accepted standard of care.
- Workplace accidents – an employer, contractor, or equipment manufacturer, depending on how the fatal accident occurred.
Every party that contributed to your loved one’s death can be held liable for their portion of responsibility. That’s why identifying every liable party is so important; it often determines how much insurance coverage is available to your family.
Can Multiple Parties Share Fault for a Wrongful Death?
Yes. Some wrongful death cases involve several parties whose conduct contributed to the same fatal incident.
For example, a fatal truck crash could involve allegations against the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or another driver. A workplace death might involve a negligent contractor as well as the manufacturer of defective machinery.
Evidence such as accident reports, photographs and video footage, witness statements, employment records, maintenance records, medical records, electronic data, and expert analysis can help determine how the death occurred and who bears responsibility.
Identifying all potentially responsible parties can be particularly important because each defendant may have different insurance coverage or other resources available to compensate surviving family members.
What Happens If My Loved One Was Partially At Fault?
Minnesota follows a modified comparative fault rule. If your loved one is found partially responsible for the incident that caused their death, any compensation your family recovers can be reduced by their percentage of fault.
If your loved one is found 51% or more at fault, Minnesota law bars your family from recovering compensation altogether.
Because of this, defendants and their insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the deceased to avoid paying a claim. You should be prepared for such tactics. Your attorney will gather evidence showing the defendants, not the deceased, are primarily responsible for the incident.
What Compensation Can the At-Fault Parties Be Required to Pay?
Minnesota law allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for both the financial and personal impact of their loss.
Wrongful death claims typically offer compensation for:
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of income and financial support your loved one would have provided
- Loss of guidance, counsel, and companionship
- Loss of consortium for a surviving spouse
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering between the incident and their death, in certain cases
An experienced attorney can help you understand the full value of your claim and pursue maximum compensation from every responsible party.
Contact a Minneapolis Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
No amount of compensation can replace the loved one you lost. But holding the responsible party accountable can provide your family with the financial security and answers you deserve. An experienced Minneapolis wrongful death attorney can help you uncover who is at fault for your loved one’s death and ensure they are held accountable — legally and financially.
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys is ready to review your case and fight for your family’s rights. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.