Have you suffered the unexpected loss of a family member because of a recent accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota? Call an experienced Minneapolis wrongful death lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to help you fight for accountability and work to maximize your recovery at (800) 292-1979.
Since our founding, our law firm has provided comfort, support, and strength for grieving families in our community. Our award-winning Minnesota trial attorneys have helped families tell their stories, demand justice, and recover millions of dollars in the process.
Benefit from a legal team with 40+ years of experience. Put yourself in the position to get the best results in your wrongful death case. Contact us at our law office to schedule your free consultation today.
How Hall Law Can Help With Your Wrongful Death Claim in Minneapolis, MN
You weren’t given the opportunity to say goodbye. Someone else was careless, and now you’ve lost someone you love forever. Medical professionals must be held accountable — and you must be made whole in the process.
You have the right to seek compensation, but you shouldn’t have to take on this challenge on your own — not during this incredibly difficult season of your life. That’s where our personal injury attorneys in Minneapolis, MN, can help.
We have the experience, in-depth knowledge of the state’s law, and resources you’ll need to best even the most powerful adversaries. We have the drive and passion to pursue results that can ease the financial burden and make a meaningful difference in your life.
You can take this time to grieve your unimaginable loss. We’ll handle the legal process, which includes:
- A thorough investigation of the accident that resulted in your family member’s fatal injuries
- Careful assessments of the evidence, including expert testimony, medical records, and witness statements
- Aggressive negotiations with insurance companies and at-fault parties on your behalf
- Guidance and advice as you’re asked to make important decisions about your case and financial future
- Passionate representation at trial if you aren’t offered a fair settlement offer
At Hall Law, we know that this is your one opportunity for closure and financial justice. We’re here to help you make the most of it. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no cost to hire our law firm unless we win your wrongful death case.
Get in touch with a member of our legal team for a free case evaluation.
What Is Wrongful Death?
In Minnesota, wrongful death is defined in Minn. Stat. §573.02 as a death arising from the “wrongful act or omission of any person or corporation.”
When a death occurs as a result of someone else’s negligence or intentional misconduct, surviving family members may be entitled to recover compensation. If your loved one suffered harm before their wrongful death, the at-fault party may be held liable. By bringing a wrongful death claim, you may be able to recover compensation for the emotional impact of your loved one’s death.
If the passing occurred due to a motor vehicle accident, you could be entitled to a minimum of $40,000 in basic economic loss benefits. This includes $20,000 for medical expense loss and $20,000 for loss of income, replacement services loss, funeral expense loss, survivor’s economic loss, and survivor’s replacement services loss.
While this is an undoubtedly challenging time for you, the state’s Survival of Causes law allows you to hold the at-fault party accountable, as personal injury matters now survive the loss of a loved one.
Causes Of Wrongful Death
At Hall Law, we represent families who have suffered the loss of their loved ones as a result of:
- Car crashes
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Occupational illness and disease
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Assaults
- Swimming pool accidents
- Other matters of premises liability
- Accidents involving defective products
- Catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and severe burns
If your family member had had the right to file a lawsuit if they’d survived their serious injuries, you may have the right to recover compensation from a wrongful death action.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
In Minnesota, the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit is reserved for the victim’s close family members.
Traditionally, this includes:
- Surviving spouse
- Children, and
- Parents
If none of these beneficiaries survive the victim, the next of kin can bring a claim.
Surviving family members can also ask the court to appoint a trustee to initiate the action and oversee the claim.
Any damages awarded in this type of claim are awarded proportionately to surviving beneficiaries.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Wrongful Death Action?
When it comes to damages, this type of lawsuit is different from other types of personal injury cases. Damages are not intended to compensate the deceased person (or their estate). They’re not intended to compensate for the pain and suffering they endured or the losses they suffered.
Instead, damages in a wrongful death case compensate the victim’s surviving family members.
As such, the types of damages that can be awarded are markedly different.
Typically, pecuniary damages – those related to verifiable or projected financial losses – are at the heart of these types of cases. However, the family can also be awarded for some non-pecuniary losses, as noted below.
Damages in a wrongful death action can include:
- Medical bills incurred prior to the victim’s passing
- The costs related to the victim’s funeral and burial
- Lost financial support from the victim, including income, wages, and retirement benefits
- Loss of companionship, care, society, and guidance
- Loss of services and protection
- Mental anguish
There’s no standard value for wrongful death cases. Instead, several factors specific to each case will dictate value.
Punitive damages can also be awarded when a victim’s passing is the consequence of the defendant’s deliberate disregard for their legal rights or safety.
These include:
- The victim’s age and life expectancy
- The victim’s earning capacity
- The degree to which the surviving family members relied on the victim financially and emotionally
- Suffering and anguish experienced by surviving family members since the victim’s death
The best way to know what your case might be worth is by speaking with an experienced Minneapolis wrongful death attorney near you. Call Hall Law to set up a time for a free case assessment. We’re here to take your call 24 hours a day.
How Do You Prove Wrongful Death?
To successfully prove wrongful death, you must establish the following:
- A death occurred
- The death was caused by another person’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing
- Your family is experiencing damages due to your loved one’s death
- You are the surviving spouse or next of kin
It can be challenging to focus on bringing a wrongful death claim while dealing with the loss of your loved one. A compassionate law firm can support you throughout this unbearable time.
How Long Will I Have to File a Minnesota Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Loved One’s Death?
The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits is three years.
The clock begins to run on the date of the victim’s decease, which may or may not be the same date as the act or accident that caused it.
It can be difficult to face the reality of your tragic and devastating loss. However, you cannot allow too much time to go by without taking legal action. Once the statute of limitations expires, you will forfeit your right to pursue compensation.
The person responsible for your loved one’s passing won’t be held civilly responsible. You’ll be left to bear the burden of your loss on your own. You can avoid this by contacting Hall Law immediately after you’ve suffered your loss. Our compassionate Minneapolis wrongful death attorney can begin to build a strategy and put a plan into action as soon as you ask for our help.
How Can Shared Fault Affect a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
When a victim contributes to an accident in which they’re injured, it affects their ability to recover compensation. Minnesota is a modified comparative negligence state. There’s a 51 percent bar to recovery. Damages in a lawsuit are reduced until the victim is assigned 51 percent or more fault. Once that happens, damages are disallowed.
That shared fault doesn’t disappear in the event of a fatal accident. Instead, it transfers to the victim’s family’s wrongful death claim.
When you file a wrongful death action, the other side – at-fault parties, insurance companies, hospitals, or corporations – may try to point fingers and shift blame. After all, your loved one isn’t around to tell their side of the story or defend themselves. These allegations are purely designed to prevent or limit a payout.
When you trust Hall Law with your case, you’ll have a team of experienced attorneys ready to defend your family member (and your financial award) at every turn. We will fight vigorously to discredit allegations of shared fault and work hard to limit how much (if any) fault they’re assigned.
The less shared responsibility they have, the more money their relatives can potentially recover from those responsible for the loss of their loved one.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney
Did you recently experience the devastating loss of a family member in an accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota? You are not alone, and you do not have to navigate these difficult times by yourself.
Call Hall Law and discover how our Minneapolis wrongful death lawyers can be a source of compassion and strength for you and your relatives.
Our award-winning legal team can handle every aspect of your case, giving you the time to grieve. We’re ready to put 40+ years of experience and a demonstrated track record of success behind your case.
To get started, simply call our law office or reach out to us online. Your first case evaluation is free, so call now.