Losing a loved one is never easy. It can be even more difficult to accept the death of a relative, however, if it was preventable and caused by someone else’s careless or intentional acts. At James L. Finegan, P.C., we stand by families in Littleton and throughout Colorado in the pursuit of justice for wrongful death.
Find out how Littleton wrongful death attorney James L. Finegan can help you today. Initial consultations are free, and you won’t pay for our services unless we succeed in securing financial compensation for your family.
Experiencing the death of someone in your family is enough to focus on. You should not have to deal with a wrongful death claim while trying to grieve. When you hire an attorney, you gain the advantage of a legal professional taking care of complicated matters for you.
Your Littleton wrongful death lawyer can communicate with an insurance company on your behalf, negotiating for the financial recovery your family deserves after a devastating loss. A lawyer can also answer your family’s legal questions and guide you through each step of the claims process.
Our law firm has more than thirty years of experience assisting individuals that have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one. Our attorneys never use a one size fits all approach to any case and we use our legal expertise to fight for the best interests of our client. Free consultations are available to discuss the facts of your specific case.
In Colorado, wrongful death is defined as a death caused by another person’s wrongful act, default or neglect. A helpful way to think about a wrongful death lawsuit is that you can file this type of claim if your deceased loved one would have been able to file a personal injury lawsuit had he or she survived the accident. Wrongful death claims in Colorado can arise due to motor vehicle accidents, falls, workplace accidents, dangerous premises and defective products.
No amount of money can ever make up for losing a loved one in a preventable accident. Obtaining financial compensation from one or more parties, however, can bring your family justice, closure and greater financial stability. The financial compensation, or damages, you could receive in a wrongful death case include funeral and burial costs, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, grief, and loss of consortium.
According to Colorado law, any person or party that committed a tort, or wrongdoing, in connection to your loved one’s fatal accident will have to pay for related financial damages, usually through his or her insurance provider. Proving a party is at fault generally requires evidence of four elements:
The at-fault party in your case could be a driver, employer, business or property owner, manufacturing company, the government, or a combination of defendants. Identifying the defendant(s) and filing a lawsuit with the correct courts are two tasks your wrongful death attorney can complete for you.
Colorado law limits who can file a wrongful death case based on how long it has been since the decedent’s passing. In the first year after the death, the decedent’s surviving spouse is the only person who can file (along with children, if applicable). In the second year, the right to file extends to the surviving spouse, children or eligible designated beneficiaries. If these parties do not exist, the decedent’s parents may file the wrongful death action.
In Colorado, the statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death case. This deadline increases to four years, however, if the death was caused by a hit-and-run vehicular homicide. With only a few exceptions, if you do not file within your deadline, the courts will bar your family from recovery.
If you recently lost a loved one, attorney James L. Finegan extends his sincerest condolences. He understands what it is like to lose someone in an unexpected accident. Please contact us to schedule your free consultation with our experienced and compassionate Littleton wrongful death attorney.
Mr. Finegan can guide you through this difficult time in a way that will protect your family’s rights and give your loved one a voice in the civil justice system. Call (303) 980-5511 or contact us online to speak to one of our attorneys.