Middletown Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful Death Attorney in Middletown, CT

Middletown is a thriving community and is generally considered a safe and welcoming place to live. Home to Wesleyan University and a revitalized downtown area, there are many things to enjoy about the Middletown area, and it’s just a short drive away from Hartford. However, unexpected fatal injuries can happen in many ways. If a loved one recently died because of another party’s actions, you need to talk to a Middletown wrongful death lawyer.

Experienced Wrongful Death Counsel in Middletown, CT

The attorneys at Buckley Wynne Parese have been assisting injured clients with their legal proceedings for more than 140 years. We believe in compassionate, results-driven legal representation in every case we accept, and we know the various challenges you and your loved ones are likely to encounter after an unexpected death in the family, especially if you know their death was the result of negligence or illegal misconduct.

Our firm can provide comprehensive support through all stages of your legal proceedings. A wrongful death case is similar to most other personal injury cases in some ways, but there are specific rules that apply to this type of case that you must understand to have the greatest chance of success in ensuring accountability. Trust your Middletown wrongful death lawyer at Buckley Wynne Parese to build a strong case for you.

Building a Successful Wrongful Death Case in Middletown

A wrongful death case is a type of personal injury case filed in response to a fatal personal injury on behalf of the deceased victim. If they would have had grounds to file a personal injury suit if they had survived, there are likely grounds for the personal representative of the deceased to file a wrongful death suit.

It’s possible for wrongful deaths to happen in many ways. Proving fault in a wrongful death case requires evidence that shows the defendant’s negligence or misconduct directly caused the fatal injury. Some of the most commonly cited causes of fatal personal injuries in Middletown include:

• Motor vehicle accidents. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are the leading causes of severe and fatal injuries throughout Connecticut every year. Three hundred sixty-eight people died in vehicle accidents in Connecticut in 2022. Some of the most common causes of fatal crashes include distracted driving, speeding, moving violations, and intoxicated driving.
• Work injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries in the United States during 2023. Some of the most commonly reported causes of death at work include falls, vehicle accidents, heavy equipment injuries, toxic exposure, and electrocution.
• Medical malpractice. According to a recent study from Johns Hopkins University, medical errors account for about 250,000 deaths throughout the United States each year, meaning medical errors are the third leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. “Medical malpractice” is defined as any type of negligence from a medical professional that causes harm to their patient.

These are just a few possible ways for unexpected fatal injuries to happen. If you believe your loved one’s death resulted from another party’s negligence, it is vital to know how to hold them accountable, as well as Connecticut’s rules for wrongful death claims. The right attorney can be invaluable for building a cohesive case and recovering compensation from the defendant.

Connecticut law requires that the executor or personal representative of the victim’s estate file the wrongful death suit. If the victim did not have an estate plan, the court may appoint one to act as a plaintiff in their personal injury case. Unlike most other states’ wrongful death statutes, Connecticut requires that the plaintiff file the wrongful death suit on behalf of the victim, not the victim’s family.

The plaintiff in the wrongful death suit can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, and then the proceeds of a successful wrongful death suit are distributed to the deceased’s beneficiaries according to their estate plan. If they did not have an estate plan, then Connecticut’s intestate succession laws would determine how the victim’s estate would be distributed.

A few types of damage that might be recovered include compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost income the victim will no longer be able to provide for their family, medical treatment costs incurred for the victim’s final injury, pain and suffering compensation for the pain and distress the victim experienced, and loss of consortium. The surviving spouse has the right to file a loss of consortium claim in combination with the wrongful death suit.

Beyond these claimable damages, it is also possible for a defendant to face additional liability based on the manner in which they caused the fatal incident. For example, if the death happened because of a vehicle accident the defendant caused by drinking and driving or some other form of reckless disregard for the safety of others, they could face liability for double or even triple damages.

Ultimately, a properly constructed wrongful death suit can potentially yield substantial compensation for the family of the victim. When you have an experienced attorney handling your case, you will be prepared to meet any unexpected challenges that arise throughout your proceedings.

What to Expect From Your Middletown Wrongful Death Lawyer

When you hire Buckley Wynne Parese to represent your wrongful death case in Middletown, there will be no upfront or ongoing attorneys’ fees as your case unfolds. Instead, we take these cases on contingency, meaning you will only be charged a fee if we win your case, and the fee will be a percentage of the total compensation recovered from the defendant.

Our goal is to help you ensure accountability and recover compensation for the damages the defendant caused. You have limited time to build a wrongful death suit in Middletown, and some of the evidence you will need to build a successful case may not be available for long. Contact Buckley Wynne Parese today to schedule your free consultation with a Middletown wrongful death lawyer and learn how we can assist you with your case.

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