Experienced Kentucky Lawyers For Wrongful Death Claims
Losing a loved one is always painful, but your grief is amplified when their death was preventable. When deaths are caused by other’s mistakes, grieving families have the right to pursue a lawsuit against the responsible parties.
At Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC, our attorneys have the skill to help your family recover the compensation you need to have some security and move forward after the wrongful death of a loved one. We fight hard for our Kentucky personal injury clients in Fayette, Shelby, Fleming, Wolfe, Letcher and Mercer counties.
What Kinds Of Events Lead To Wrongful Death Lawsuits?
A wrongful death is any death that is caused by someone else’s negligent, reckless or intentional wrongful acts or omissions. Some of the leading causes of wrongful deaths include:
- Drugged or drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Nursing home neglect or abuse
- Surgical mistakes
- Birth injuries
- Slip-and-falls
- Commercial truck accidents
- Bicycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
A wrongful death claim can include medical bills incurred by the deceased before death, funeral bills, the value of the deceased’s lost earning power or services to the family and the value of their lost companionship or guidance.
Who Can Pursue A Wrongful Death Claim In Kentucky?
In Kentucky, wrongful death claims must be pursued by the deceased’s personal representative on behalf of the estate, rather than by individual family members. If a claim is successful, the compensation will be distributed as follows:
- If there is a surviving spouse but no children, 100% goes to the spouse.
- If there is a surviving spouse and children, they will share equally.
- If there are children but no surviving spouse, 100% goes to the children.
- If there is no surviving spouse or surviving children, 100% goes to the deceased’s parents.
If the deceased left no spouse, child or parent behind, then whatever is recovered will go to their estate and be distributed according to their will.
Time Is Limited, So Act Swiftly
Wrongful death claims in Kentucky must generally be filed within one year or are barred forever, so do not hesitate to call Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC, at 859-286-7840 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.