If you recently lost a beloved relative or close friend in an incident caused by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions, you may need help and legal advice from a wrongful death lawyer. While no amount of compensation can ever bring your loved one back, filing a wrongful death claim can help hold a negligent party accountable for the immeasurable damage that they have caused.

The experienced Lakewoord personal injury attorneys at Dulin McQuinn Young can provide unwavering legal support during this difficult time in your life. We have over 20 years of experience and a strong track record of success, including many multi-million-dollar recoveries. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your situation in a confidential setting.

How an Experienced Lakewood Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help

After an unexpected death, it is difficult to function or imagine moving forward with your life. At the same time, the law immediately imposes a clock that starts ticking down on your right to recover compensation and pursue justice for the loss of your loved one.

An experienced wrongful death attorney can handle all the legal details of your case so you can focus on your grief and your family. The experienced legal team at Dulin McQuinn Young can:

Explain your legal rights during a free, no-obligation consultation
Provide tailored legal advice based on your particular situation
Prove liability for your loved one’s death through evidence such as accident reports, medical records, autopsy reports, photos, and video footage
Establish the full extent of your damages
Negotiate for maximum financial compensation

We offer our legal services on a contingency-fee basis, which means you don’t pay for them unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Colorado’s Wrongful Death Laws

Colorado law defines a wrongful death as being caused by “a wrongful act, neglect, or default of another,” and those actions would have justified the victim to file a personal injury claim had they lived. Under this broad definition, a wrongful death can arise due to someone’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions.

Another important law involving wrongful death cases is the statute of limitations. This law establishes the time limit that a person has a right to file certain types of legal cases. In Colorado, the statute of limitations gives claimants two years to file a wrongful death claim. The statute of limitations begins on the date of death.

Colorado law limits who can file this specific type of personal injury claim. Within the first year, only the surviving spouse has the right to file this type of case unless they consent others to file the case.

In the second year after death, any of the following individuals could potentially file a wrongful death claim in Colorado:

The surviving spouse
The decedent’s heirs (the people who would have the right to inherit from the decedent such as their children or parents)
The designated beneficiary of the decedent

If none of the following parties exist or the decedent was an unmarried minor, their parents can file the claim. If there are no surviving parents, the deceased person’s siblings can file the claim. Next, the decedent’s nieces or nephews could file the claim.

A knowledgeable Lakewood wrongful death lawyer can help you navigate these laws.

Who Is Responsible for Wrongful Death?

The party responsible for the wrongful death depends on the type of accident where the decedent died and the circumstances surrounding it. For example, commonly named defendants in wrongful death cases include the following:

Negligent motorists who cause car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, or motorcycle accident
Trucking companies, truck drivers, or cargo loading companies that are responsible for truck accidents
Product manufacturers who produce defective products
Property owners who create or allow dangerous conditions on their property to cause slips and falls, drowning accidents, or other premises liability accidents
General contractors, subcontractors, independent contractors, engineers, or others who are responsible for construction accidents
Employers, who are generally responsible for the negligent actions of their employees

Our experienced attorneys can carefully review your situation to determine if you have viable grounds to file a wrongful death claim.

Compensation in Colorado Wrongful Death Cases

Colorado law allows the recipients of wrongful death proceeds to seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are direct financial losses that they experienced as a result of the death, such as:

Funeral expenses and burial costs
Lost financial support and household services the family doesn’t receive due to the death
Lost benefits, such as pension and insurance

Non-economic damages are more subjective losses that adversely affect the surviving family members, such as:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship
Loss of consortium
Loss of parental guidance

Our legal team fights tirelessly to hold the negligent party accountable for the full extent of the harm they have caused.

Wrongful Death vs. Survival Actions in Colorado

In some situations, a family may be able to file a survival action in a wrongful death lawsuit. While a wrongful death claim helps compensate the decedent’s loved ones for their losses, a survival action provides compensation to the decedent’s estate for the losses the decedent lost right before death. Damages in a survival action can provide additional compensation for the following:

The decedent’s final medical expenses
Lost wages from the time of the accident until death
The decedent’s pain and suffering

An experienced personal injury lawyer in Lakewood can review your situation and explain which legal option is best for your particular situation.

Contact Our Lakewood Wrongful Death Attorneys for a Free and Confidential Consultation

If someone else’s careless actions are responsible for the loss of your loved one, you deserve justice and accountability. The experienced Lakewood wrongful death attorneys from Dulin McQuinn Young can fight to protect your loved one’s legacy and your legal rights. We can discuss these rights and your legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us today at (303) 246-1111 to schedule your initial consultation. Our caring and compassionate team is ready to help.