A wrongful death can leave victims confused, angry, and surprised. They may not know their options for seeking justice or accountability. An experienced Greeley wrongful death attorney from Dulin McQuinn Young can explain your family’s legal options and answer your questions during this challenging time.

Our Greeley wrongful death attorneys can help you navigate the complex claims process and guide you through the process of seeking justice and accountability from the at-fault party. Contact us today to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation.

Greeley Wrongful Death Attorney

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

When someone dies due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct, certain surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim they can make against the party responsible for the death. Under this definition, wrongful death cases can arise when a person dies due to the negligent or intentional acts of another. If the person survived and would have qualified for a personal injury claim, then their family is likely eligible for a wrongful death claim.

Wrongful death claims are civil claims. No amount of money or other action can ever bring your loved one back. However, the courts are limited to awarding monetary damages to provide some semblance of justice. Through a wrongful death claim, your family can seek financial damages to help alleviate some of the financial burden brought on by the unexpected death of your loved one.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death

Leading causes of wrongful death include the following:

Car accidents
ATV accidents
Bicycle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Bus accidents
Drunk driving accidents
Hit and run accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Truck accidents
Snowmobile accidents
Construction accidents
Dog bites
Pool accidents
Slip and fall accidents
Premises liability accidents
Product liability accidents

Whether your loved one’s death was due to criminal conduct, intentional misconduct, or an act of negligence, an experienced Greeley wrongful death lawyer from Dulin McQuinn Young can help.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Colorado?

Colorado law establishes who can file a wrongful death claim in the state and when. Under these laws, the following rules apply:

Within the first year of death, only the surviving spouse can file a wrongful death claim under the Colorado Wrongful Death Act.
Within the second year of death, the surviving spouse, surviving children, or a designated beneficiary of the decedent can file a claim. If the decedent left none of these survivors, the decedent’s parents can file a wrongful death claim within this time period.
The decedent’s personal representative can file a survival action for damages to the estate.
All wrongful death claims and survivor claims must be filed within two years of the death, or the family will lose their right to bring such a legal action.

If you would like to learn whether you have a viable wrongful death claim, an experienced Greeley wrongful death attorney from our law firm can explain your rights during a free consultation.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover in a Colorado Wrongful Death Claim?

Survivors may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages through a wrongful death claim. Here is what you need to know about these damages:

Economic Damages

Economic damages represent the financial losses survivors will experience due to the decedent’s premature death. Economic damages may include:

Loss of expected earnings that the decedent was expected to earn over the course of their career
Loss of benefits, including health insurance, dental coverage, retirement benefits, and pension plans
Loss of inheritance that the decedent would have been able to provide if the death had not occurred
Value of the goods and services the decedent would have provided if they had lived
Funeral expenses and burial costs

The value of these economic damages is based on various factors, including the following factors:

The decedent’s age
The decedent’s health before death
The decedent’s earning capacity
The age of the decedent’s children
The type of assistance the decedent would have provided had the death not occurred

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages provide compensation for the emotional aspects of the death, recognizing the tremendous loss of a loved one and the nurturing role they provided their family. Non-economic damages can include the following:

The decedent’s survivors’ pain and suffering
A spouse’s loss of consortium
The decedent’s loss of companionship, support, care, and guidance
The decedent’s earning capacity
The age of the decedent’s children

It can sometimes be difficult to prove that survivors have experienced pain and suffering. In such cases, Colorado law allows survivors to file a solatium claim instead of having to prove they suffered emotional anguish. In such cases, recovery is capped at $50,000, subject to adjustments for inflation.

Punitive Damages

Colorado law allows claimants to seek punitive damages when the defendant acts maliciously, willfully, wantonly, or with fraud. Unlike other types of damages, punitive damages are not intended to compensate the victim. Instead, they are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

Damages in a Survival Action

In some situations, it may be possible to file a survival action alongside a wrongful death claim. Survival actions seek compensation owed to the estate. Damages that may be available in survival actions represent the losses the decedent suffered between the time of the accident and their eventual death, such as:

Medical expenses for the treatment related to the decedent’s injury that caused their death
Lost wages or income
Property damage costs and repairs
Pain and suffering

Why Do I Need a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

Losing a loved one unexpectedly can be a lot to handle. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can handle the legal legwork and support you during this challenging time. Some of the essential tasks that your wrongful death lawyer can handle include:

Answering your questions
Investigating your loved one’s death
Identifying all parties who contributed to the accident
Gathering evidence to prove fault and the full extent of your losses
Communicating with insurance companies
Negotiating for fair compensation

Contact Dulin McQuinn Young to Speak to Our Compassionate Wrongful Death Lawyers

If you would like assistance with your wrongful death claim, the Greeley wrongful death attorneys at Dulin McQuinn Young are here to help. We have had extensive experience handling these types of claims and stand beside surviving family members in pursuing justice to protect their loved one’s legacy.

Greeley Wrongful Death Lawyer