Edmond Wrongful Death Lawyer
Did you recently lose a loved one in a car accident or motorcycle crash in Edmond, OK?
If someone else is responsible for your devastating loss, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and demand compensation.
Money will not turn back the clock or bring your loved one back to you, but it can help to make things easier for your family in the months and years to come.
The experienced and compassionate Edmond wrongful death lawyers at McGuire Law Firm can help you fight to maximize your recovery.
Contact our law office at (405) 513-5658 to arrange a free consultation at your convenience. We are here to do whatever we can to help you get through this incredibly difficult time.
How Our Law Firm Can Help with Your Wrongful Death Case?
Hiring a skilled Edmond personal injury lawyer from McGuire Law Firm is an excellent first step on the roadway to protecting your financial future in the aftermath of your loved one's death. Here are just a few of the ways our legal team can assist you with your pursuit of damages:
- Review your case and accurately assess your damages
- Provide you with honest answers to your legal questions
- Handle your wrongful death suit's paperwork load
- Offer you sound legal advice and guidance throughout your case
- Launch an investigation into the cause of your loved one's accident
- Walk you through your possible legal options
- Consult with relevant experts about your loved one's death
- Identify the party that is responsible for your loved one's death
- Provide you with a detailed overview of the Oklahoma legal system
- Put together an effective strategy for your wrongful death lawsuit
- Communicate with the other party's legal team on your behalf
- Look for relevant evidence that might help to prove your case
- Negotiating a settlement with the defendant's insurance company
- Argue on your behalf in court, if necessary
Do you want to have one of our knowledgeable wrongful death attorneys help you fight for the compensation you deserve? If so, please contact us to set up a free consultation at our law office in Edmond, OK. We have the skills and experience needed to handle your case, no matter how complex it may be.
Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths in Edmond, Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma categorizes any death that occurs because of the negligent behavior of another person as "wrongful." Thousands of deaths receive this designation every year.
A brief list of some of the most common causes of wrongful deaths in the City of Edmond would include:
Car Accidents
Drunk, distracted, and fatigued drivers frequently cause car accidents on the streets and highways of Edmond. Unfortunately, these crashes often cause passengers and other road users to lose their lives.
Truck Accidents
The trucks that travel around Edmond can weigh up to 80,000 lbs when fully loaded. So, when they crash into other vehicles, the outcomes can be devastating. It is not at all unusual for multiple people to lose their lives in these types of accidents.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable people on the city streets of Edmond. Unlike those in vehicles, they do not have any safety features to keep them safe in the event of a crash. So, when cars, trucks, and buses hit them at high speed, they often sustain severe injuries that cause them to lose their lives.
Medical Malpractice
When the people of Edmond visit hospitals or medical clinics, they expect to receive high-quality care. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. In some cases, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals make medical errors that cause them to die.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents happen just about every day in Edmond and across the state of Oklahoma. When victims fall from especially high locations or land awkwardly, they often pass away. Under the state’s premises liability laws, negligent owners can be held legally responsible for these tragic consequences.
Workplace Accidents
When Oklahoma residents go to work in the morning, they expect to come home to their loving family later in the day. Unfortunately, accidents in the workplace mean that many of those who leave never come home.
Defective Products
Sometimes, products we buy for ourselves or our family members aren’t as safe as we’d expect. When a product is unreasonably dangerous, it can result in the user’s death. This is not as uncommon as you might think. Every year, thousands of people are killed after taking defective drugs, using dangerous medical devices, and operating defective equipment. Family members may have the right to file a wrongful death claim on the grounds of product liability.
No matter how your family member lost their life, you can rely on our team of knowledgeable wrongful death lawyers in Edmond, Oklahoma, to assist you with your fight for compensation. Reach out to us today to arrange an initial consultation and learn more about our legal services.
Who Can File Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has some very strict rules about who may file for compensation after an individual loses their life in a preventable accident. State law says that a decedent's loved ones may file suit in the following order:
The Personal Representative
Oklahoma law explains that a decedent's personal representative may file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the beneficiaries. In most instances, this personal representative is the individual named as the executor in the deceased person's last will and testament.
If the decedent does not have a valid will, the court may select a personal representative on their behalf.
The Surviving Spouse
When the decedent fails to name a personal representative, and the court chooses not to appoint one, the right to file a lawsuit falls to the surviving spouse. This rule applies to same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike.
The Next of Kin
When the deceased person does not have a spouse, Oklahoma law states that the right to pursue damages moves on to their next of kin. There is no definition of this term in the Oklahoma statutes. However, judges typically agree that the following parties fall into this category:
- The decedent's parents
- The decedent's siblings, and
- The decedent's children
Do you need a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney in Edmond, OK, to help you file suit after your loved one's passing? If so, please reach out to McGuire Law Firm as soon as possible. Our legal team has many years of experience in the industry, and we are ready to go to battle for you.
Proving Liability in Oklahoma Wrongful Death Cases
Recovering compensation after a spouse or child dies in an accident is not as simple as filing some forms and waiting for money to arrive. No, anyone who wants to achieve a favorable outcome to a wrongful death case must first prove that:
- The other party owed their loved one a duty of care
- The other party breached that duty by acting with negligence, and
- The other party's breach of duty caused their loved one's death
In most cases, the best way for a plaintiff to prove these three points is to present the court with lots of relevant evidentiary materials, such as:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Witness testimony
- Surveillance footage
- Accident scene photos
Do you need help searching for the evidence you require to prove another person's liability? Then please do not hesitate to reach out to McGuire Law Firm - your local wrongful death lawyers, serving Oklahoma City and Edmond. We have handled countless cases like yours over the years, and we are ready to assist you in any way we can.
Damages Available in Edmond Wrongful Death Lawsuits
The amount of compensation doled out to the family members of people who die in preventable accidents in Edmond depends on factors like:
- The age of the deceased person
- The education of the deceased person
- The income of the deceased person
- The earning capacity of the deceased person
- The state of the deceased person's health
- The cost of the deceased person's funeral
- The circumstances of the deceased person's dependents
When the attorneys at McGuire Law Firm file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of grieving Edmond families, we usually pursue damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Burial or cremation costs
- Lost income
- Loss of future earnings
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Would you like to have a lawyer from McGuire Law Firm help you fight for compensation after your family member's death? If so, please give us a call today to set up a free consultation at our law office in Edmond. Our team knows how to win injury cases like yours and is ready to go to bat for you.
Statute of Limitations for Oklahoma Wrongful Death Cases
The statute of limitations for just about all wrongful death cases in the state of Oklahoma is two years. This law means that people who lose their loved ones in preventable accidents in Edmond must sue the liable party before the second anniversary of the death.
The state of Oklahoma takes this deadline very seriously. Courts typically reject any petitions that they receive after the statutory window closes.
Is the statute of limitations for your wrongful death lawsuit set to expire in the coming weeks or months? If so, please do not hesitate to get in touch with McGuire Law Firm. We might be able to use our experience in the legal field to help you expedite the filing process.
Your Knowledgeable Edmond Wrongful Death Lawyer
When you need an Edmond wrongful death lawyer to assist you with your fight for compensation after the loss of a loved one, there is only one firm you need to call - McGuire Law Firm. We have been helping clients file lawsuits of this nature for years, securing many favorable outcomes along the way. Reach out to us today to learn more about our legal services.
