Category: Wrongful Death

March 1, 2024 / Wrongful Death

Who Is Entitled to Wrongful Death Benefits?

Losing a loved one due to someone else's negligence is an incredibly painful experience. In such tragic circumstances, understanding your legal rights is essential. Wrongful death benefits can provide financial relief for surviving family members, but it's crucial to know who is entitled to these benefits under Indiana law. The recoverable damages in a wrongful death lawsuit hinge on the age of the deceased and their connection to the claimant(s). Typically, only immediate family members are entitled to receive compensation. For instance, one might be eligible for compensation following the passing of a parent, but not the death of an aunt or uncle. What Is a Wrongful Death Claim? A wrongful death claim, also known as a wrongful de[...]


February 20, 2024 / Wrongful Death

Is There a Statute of Limitations on a Wrongful Death Suit?

Losing a loved one due to someone else's negligence is a devastating experience. Families often seek legal recourse by filing a wrongful death lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable. In such cases, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek justice and compensation for your loss. However, it's crucial to understand the legal framework surrounding wrongful death claims, including the statute of limitations, to ensure your rights are protected. If you need legal help with your wrongful death suit, the experienced lawyers at Stephenson Rife can help. Contact us today at (317) 680-2501. Understanding Wrongful Death Claims A wrongful death claim is when the negligence, recklessness, or intentional miscondu[...]


Bicycle Deaths: It’s No Longer Mostly Children
December 22, 2023 / Wrongful Death

Bicycle Deaths: It’s No Longer Mostly Children

Bicycles, once synonymous with carefree childhood adventures, have become integral to adult life. Bicycle accidents were often seen as unfortunate yet commonplace misadventures, usually involving scraped knees and tales of daring escapades. As the wheels of time turn, so too does the narrative surrounding bicycle-related fatalities. What was once predominantly a concern for children learning to navigate their bikes close to home now impacts adults at an alarming rate. In recent years, there has been a notable shift in the demographics of bicycle-related fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2021, there were 966 cyclist fatalities, and the average age of the cyclist killed was 49. The National Lib[...]


How Are Wrongful Death Settlements Paid Out?
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. Contact our experienced Indianapolis wrongful death lawyer to guide you through the process and help you understand your leg[...]


Can You Sue a Hospital for Wrongful Death?
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 [...]


Does Insurance Cover Wrongful Death?
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[...]


Who gets the money in a wrongful death settlement?
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[...]


What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
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. If you’ve decided to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for additional compens[...]


How Do You Prove Wrongful Death?
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 lawyer 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. Wh[...]


Legal Options When Your Loved One Dies in a Car Accident
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[...]


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