Bridgeport Wrongful Death Lawyers

The death of a close family member is a horrible event. The pain of this loss is magnified when a family member’s death results from another person’s negligence. Fortunately, Connecticut State law allows you to hold the negligent person accountable by pursuing a wrongful death claim.

The Bridgeport wrongful death attorneys at Carter Mario Law Firm can help with your claim and potential lawsuit as you move through this difficult time.

Take Your First Steps Forward with Carter Mario Law Firm

Wrongful death lawsuits are legally complex matters to litigate. Due to the high financial value of the loss of a victim’s life, insurance companies spare no expense in defending wrongful death lawsuits. Our attorneys have been successfully representing families of wrongful death victims in Bridgeport and all of Connecticut in their pursuit of justice for over 30 years.

If you’re living in Bridgeport and have been involved in a car accident, a truck accident, a motorcycle accident, or must file a workers’ compensation, a catastrophic injury, or a medical malpractice lawsuit, the personal injury lawyers at Carter Mario Law Firm can help.

What Counts as a “Wrongful” Death?

A “wrongful death” occurs when another person’s actions cause a victim’s death. Specifically, the individual or individuals responsible must have committed an act of negligence which directly or partially caused the victim’s death. Instances of wrongful death occur in a variety of circumstances.

What Are the Common Causes of Wrongful Death Claims?

A wrongful death claim is essentially a personal injury claim. The difference between them is the victim passed away as opposed to surviving their injuries. Similar to personal injury claims, instances of wrongful death occur due to the following:

• Bridgeport car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Workers’ compensation
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and Falls
• Pedestrian Accidents

How a Bridgeport Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Helps

As Connecticut’s premier personal injury law firm, the Bridgeport wrongful death attorneys at Carter Mario can help you build a strong case against the negligent party. Our attorneys investigate the facts of your loved one’s death to gather evidence proving the other person’s negligence. We also prepare your case to overcome the insurance company’s possible legal or factual defenses.

Proving Responsibility for a Wrongful Death in Bridgeport

To win a wrongful death lawsuit, you must prove the opposing party committed an act of negligence, i.e., a breach of a legally recognized duty, which caused the death of your loved one. You must prove the other person’s negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%. You are more likely to meet this burden of proof if you can produce strong evidence at trial, e.g., independent witness testimony, an expert medical opinion, video footage, etc.

Potential Compensation for Wrongful Death Claims

Under Connecticut’s wrongful death statute, the victim’s estate can obtain compensation for the victim’s medical and funeral expenses and the pain and suffering the victim experienced before their death. Connecticut State law also allows a victim’s spouse to file a separate loss of consortium claim and seek compensation for the loss of companionship. Finally, a victim’s surviving family members can request a verdict be doubled or tripled if they can prove their loved one’s death occurred due to the responsible party operating their vehicle in a reckless manner.

Wrongful Death FAQ

In addition to grief and emotional pain, the death of a loved one also causes chaos in the lives of surviving family members. As such, it is natural to have questions. At Carter Mario, we offer free consultations in which we answer all questions regarding wrongful death claims in Bridgeport.

How Long Do I Have to File?

Under Connecticut State law, you have two years to file a wrongful death claim beginning from the date of your loved one’s death. However, in some instances, the statute of limitations may be five years. For example, if your spouse was the victim of medical malpractice and passed away four years following a negligently performed surgery, you have one year to file a lawsuit, because the five-year statute of limitations began running the day the surgery was performed.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Bridgeport?

A wrongful death claim can only be filed by the administrator or executor of the victim’s estate. The executor or administrator does not have to be a family member. However, surviving family members can still obtain financial compensation. This is because Connecticut State law requires the money the estate recovers from a wrongful death claim to be distributed to surviving family members via the terms of the victim’s will or by the law of intestacy.

What Does “Liable” for Wrongful Death Mean?

“Liable” means the responsible party caused the victim’s death. Specifically, the victim’s death would not have occurred unless the responsible party committed an act of negligence. Also, “liable” means the negligent party is legally obligated to pay financial compensation.

How Much Does a Bridgeport Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?

At Carter Mario, we charge no upfront legal fees. Under our Zero Fee Warranty, we do not get paid unless we negotiate a favorable settlement or obtain a favorable judgment in court. Finally, our fee will not exceed the amount of money you obtain.

Contact Carter Mario Law Firm to Talk with a Bridgeport Wrongful Death Attorney

You need strong legal representation if you recently lost a close family member. At Carter Mario, our legal team takes a client-centered approach when fighting insurance companies on behalf of the families of wrongful death victims in Bridgeport. To learn more about our services, contact us today!