Are you struggling with the sudden and tragic death of a family member because of a fatal accident in Manassas, Virginia? Call The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm at (571) 229-1800 for a free consultation. Our experienced Manassas wrongful death lawyers can help you fight for maximum compensation.
We are a top-rated Virginia personal injury law firm that’s helped injury victims and families recover tens of millions of dollars in monetary awards. Backed by 27 years of combined legal experience and a proven track record of success, we’re not afraid to take on powerful corporations and demand that our clients are made whole.
Your family has rights, which can include the ability to take legal action against those responsible for your loved one’s passing. Contact our law office to find out how our Manassas personal injury attorneys can help after the unexpected death of a family member. Your first consultation is free.
Why Choose The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm For Help With a Wrongful Death Claim in Manassas, VA?
It’s always hard to lose someone you love. A loss can be much more difficult to deal with when it’s unexpected. You deserve time to grieve your loss and figure out how to forge a path forward. You also deserve to be compensated for the ways in which your loss affects your life. That’s where The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm can help.
Our Manassas personal injury lawyers are respected and feared Virginia litigators. Families turn to us in times of need because we level the playing field against powerful insurance companies and aren’t afraid to go the extra mile to make a difference in our clients’ lives.
It’s why we’ve received some of the most prestigious honors and accolades in the legal industry:
- Top 100 by The National Trial Lawyers
- Top 10 Attorney in Personal Injury Law by the NAOPIA
- Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers
We’re deeply ingrained in our local community and fight for our clients as if they were family. We’re in Manassas, VA, to make things as easy as possible for you during such a tragic time in your life.
Contact our Manassas wrongful death attorneys to learn more and schedule a free case evaluation.
How Do I Know If I Have a Wrongful Death Case?
Section 8.01-50 of the Virginia Code defines a wrongful death as when someone’s death is “caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of any person or corporation.”
A wrongful death case is a legal claim brought to recover compensation in the wake of a person’s avoidable death. A wrongful death case can generally be filed as long as the decedent would have been able to file a personal injury claim for damages if they’d survived their injuries.
While a personal injury claim is designed to compensate an accident victim for damages they’ve suffered in an accident or because of an act of violence, a wrongful death claim is designed to compensate surviving family members and/or the decedent’s estate.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Virginia?
In Virginia, a wrongful death claim typically must be filed by the decedent’s personal representative. The personal representative might be the victim’s spouse, one of their children, another family member, a close personal friend, or even a personal injury attorney.
The personal representative is generally named in the decedent’s will or appointed by a judge.
There is one major exception—situations where a child is killed in an accident or because of an act of criminal violence. In these situations, the child’s parent might be able to bring a wrongful death claim for damages.
The personal representative doesn’t necessarily benefit from the wrongful death action; instead, damages are usually distributed in the following order of priority:
- Spouse, children of the deceased, grandchildren of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
- Brothers and/or sisters of the deceased
Other relatives can benefit if none of the family members listed above survive the decedent.
What Is My Family’s Wrongful Death Claim Worth?
Several factors will be considered when your family’s wrongful death claim is valued, such as:
- How much did you rely on the decedent for financial support?
- What role did the decedent play in running and supporting the household?
- How old was the decedent at the time of their premature death?
- What was the decedent’s life expectancy before their death?
- What was the nature of your relationship with the decedent?
- How has your family member’s death affected your quality of life?
Calculating a wrongful death claim’s value can be complicated because it requires determining how much money and support your loved one would have provided if they’d survived. Our personal injury law firm will bring in financial experts and specialists to evaluate your family’s case and understand what it’s worth.
What Damages Can Be Awarded in a Successful Wrongful Death Action?
In Virginia, beneficiaries of a wrongful death claim can receive “fair and just” compensation for their economic losses and harder-to-value non-economic trauma.
This can include money for:
- Sorrow, mental anguish, and solace
- Loss of society, companionship, guidance, and comfort
- Reasonably expected loss of the decedent’s income, job benefits, and wages
- Loss of the decedent’s protection, care, and assistance
- Loss of household support
- Medical expenses incurred before the decedent’s passing
- Costs for the decedent’s funeral, burial, and/or cremation
Punitive damages can also be awarded if a wrongful death lawsuit goes to trial. A Manassas jury can order the defendant named in the case to pay additional compensation to the family as punishment if there’s proof of “willful or wanton conduct” or “such recklessness as evinces a conscious disregard for the safety of others.”
What Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney in Manassas, VA?
There’s no cost to hire our wrongful death attorneys in Manassas until we win compensation for you.
We represent our clients on a contingent basis. Our fees are entirely dependent on the case results we achieve.
When we negotiate a favorable settlement agreement or win a verdict for your family at trial, our attorney fees are simply taken out of that financial award. This way, there’s no stress or pressure when you ask for help.
How Does a Decedent’s Shared Fault Affect a Virginia Wrongful Death Case?
Virginia’s contributory fault rule generally applies to all matters of personal injury, including claims for wrongful death. So, you typically won’t be able to recover compensation if your family member’s negligence or wrongful actions contributed to their fatal injuries.
Even sharing just one percent of the blame for a fatal accident can be a total bar to recovery.
It’s easy to see why insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will be quick to point fingers and blame accident victims for their injuries and deaths. If these claims aren’t disputed, it can end your family’s fight for compensation before it even starts.
Representing Families in All Types of Wrongful Death Cases in Manassas, VA
Our personal injury attorneys in Manassas have extensive experience advocating for families in wrongful death matters related to:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Dog bites
- Negligent security
- Premises liability
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Product liability
- Nursing home abuse
If someone you love was killed in an accident in Manassas, it’s important to consider what legal options you might have. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can help your family recover much-needed compensation and make sure that the party responsible for your loved one’s premature passing is held accountable for the devastation they’ve caused.
Call our Virginia wrongful death attorneys in Manassas to discover how our experience, resources, and winning legal strategies can help your family prevail.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Virginia?
Barring any exceptions, Virginia usually applies a two-year statute of limitations to most wrongful death lawsuits.
The statute of limitations begins to run on the date of an injured person’s passing.
If you miss the filing deadline, your family won’t be able to demand financial justice from a negligent motorist, a property owner, a government agency, or anyone else who might bear responsibility for your loved one’s untimely death.
Contact Our Manassas Wrongful Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Contact The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm for compassionate legal assistance if you’ve recently suffered the death of a family member in Manassas, Virginia. If their death was the result of another party’s negligence, our Manassas wrongful death lawyers can help you fight for compensation.
Money might not bring them back to you, but it can ease your burdens and offer a sense of justice. We’ve helped our clients win over $60 million in monetary awards. Now, we’re ready to bring our experienced and strategic representation to your wrongful death case.
There’s no charge for an initial case review, so call our law office to begin.
