Category: Wrongful Death

November 18, 2022 / Wrongful Death

How Are Wrongful Death Settlements Paid Out?

Dealing with the death of a loved one caused by someone else’s negligence can be devastating. You may receive some benefits through your loved one’s life insurance, but that might not alleviate the financial and emotional burden that you feel. You may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for additional compensation. Wrongful death lawsuits can be complicated and stressful, so it is important to consult with an experienced attorney who can represent your best interests. If you’ve decided to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for additional compensation, you might be wondering how the money gets paid out. How to Obtain Settlement Before we discuss the ins and outs of the money, here’s a little background of how you get [...]

August 14, 2020 / Wrongful Death

Can You Sue a Hospital for Wrongful Death?

If you’ve put your trust in a hospital and agree to have your loved one receive medical care there, it’s a horrible shock when they die unexpectedly. You believed you were taking them to a safe, responsible environment only to discover that they died needlessly because of someone else’s negligence or carelessness. This could be a case of wrongful death, and your grieving family could be entitled to financial compensation. We know that no amount of money could ever replace your loved one, but a financial payout could help with medical bills, lost income that you relied on, and the opportunity to provide for family members in the future. Indiana’s General Wrongful Death Act is found at Ind. Code 34-23-1. The statute reads, in [...]

April 21, 2020 / Wrongful Death

Does Insurance Cover Wrongful Death?

If someone you love has been killed in an auto crash, medical malpractice event, at-home accident or other tragic circumstances, you not only have to endure the shock and grief of their death, but you might also have to pay medical bills, funeral costs and other expenses.  If this is the case, you may be wondering, “does insurance cover wrongful death?”  If the death occurred as a result of another person’s or company’s negligence, then there’s a good chance that their car insurance, home insurance and other kinds of insurance may provide a financial payout. There are many ways that a wrongful death can happen, and each case has its own unique set of facts.  Whether it’s a car crash on an interstate, death during a hospita[...]

January 2, 2020 / Wrongful Death

Who gets the money in a wrongful death settlement?

Many family members are grieving after the death of a loved one, and those feelings are heightened if the person was killed in a vehicle accident or other wrongful death event.  After initial confusion and sadness subside, family members can begin to ask questions like “who gets the money in a wrongful death settlement?” The role of attorneys in the wrongful death settlement process is to help navigate the legal system to ensure that you receive the financial compensation you are entitled to.  If you have been affected by the wrongful death of a loved one and want to learn more about your legal rights, contact the attorneys at Stephenson Rife in Indiana for a free consultation.  We can answer your questions, explain the law and di[...]

July 8, 2019 / Wrongful Death

What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

If you’ve lost a close family member unexpectedly, you may be in shock, overwhelmed with grief, and not thinking clearly. The last thing on your mind may be tracking down who is responsible and initiating a lawsuit. But when you are ready, it’s something you should consider. There is a whole slew of expenses that come along with a relative’s passing, and you should not — and may not even be able to  — pay them if someone else is at fault. No payout is going to bring back the person you love or ease the sense of loss you feel. But it will reduce the financial burden of your loved one’s death and ensure the responsible parties pay, as they should. What qualifies as a wrongful death lawsuit? Am I entitled to take the people [...]

July 1, 2019 / Wrongful Death

How Do You Prove Wrongful Death?

The unexpected death of someone you love turns your world upside down. The person who has always been there for you is gone, and the emotional and financial fallout is life-shattering. When your loss is something that could have been prevented — that’s due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another person or business — the toll may be even more difficult to bear. How do you prove wrongful death? If you’ve lost a spouse, child, or parent and someone else is at fault, the Indianapolis wrongful death lawyers at Stephenson Rife will work hard to uncover the evidence, build an airtight case, and win you the damages you deserve. No amount of money will bring your loved one back, but you can hold the responsible party accountable. W[...]

June 3, 2019 / Wrongful Death

Legal Options When Your Loved One Dies in a Car Accident

Most of us think nothing of hopping in the car to get from Point A to Point B, and we do it multiple times per day. It often doesn’t hit home how dangerous the roads are until the unthinkable happens, and yet the “unthinkable” happens surprisingly often. According to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, 911 people died in a traffic accident in Indiana in 2017. While fatalities in the state reached an all-time low in 2014, they’ve ticked upward since then. Drivers who are impaired due to alcohol or drugs, distracted by their phones, or otherwise not paying attention are a huge problem in the state and nationally. The commute home from work, a trip to the gym, a milk run to the store -- any of these routine activities[...]

May 29, 2019 / Wrongful Death

Are You Eligible to File for a Wrongful Death Claim?

Losing a close family member under any circumstance is devastating and life-changing. When the death is unexpected, the mourning process is compounded by shock, uncertainty, and fear for the future. You may have been financially dependent on that person. At the very least, you will face funeral and burial costs and the monumental work of sorting out your loved one’s affairs for them. If your family member’s passing is the result of negligence or the actions of another party, it meets the definition of wrongful death. And you may be entitled to compensation. Mike Stephenson is an experienced and compassionate wrongful death lawyer who will fight to win the damages you deserve so you can focus on grieving and, eventually, healing. W[...]

March 18, 2019 / Wrongful Death

How to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Indiana

If a member of your immediate family was killed due to negligence or an intentional act of another, you need to know how to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Indiana to seek compensation for your loss. You need to learn who can file these types of legal actions and what can be sought by them are controlled by Indiana statutes and court cases interpreting them. In order to file a wrongful death lawsuit, the following must be met: The deceased apparently died due to negligence or because of an intentional act of another, You are allowed by statute to benefit from the lawsuit, You seek damages allowed by state statute, and The filing occurs within two years of the person’s death. The deceased apparently died due to neglige[...]