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Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorney

Losing a family member is a difficult enough experience in itself. When a loved one’s death is caused by another person or company’s disregard for safety, however, the pain and frustration are indescribable. As the unforeseen financial burdens that accompany such a loss, like medical bills, funeral costs, and the loss of income begin to emerge, it can quickly feel like you have no place to turn. You don’t have to shoulder the challenges of your loved one’s death alone. Las Vegas injury lawyer Christopher Burk at Burk Injury Lawyers understands your pain, and he wants to help you take legal action. 

If your loved one’s death was caused by negligent, reckless, or intentional acts, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Las Vegas wrongful death attorney Christopher D. Burk at Burk Injury Lawyers for a FREE, no-obligation case evaluation.

Call: 702-620-2020

Funerary urn with ashes of dead and flowers at funeral. Burial urn decorated with flowers and people mourning in background at memorial service, sad and grieving last farewell to deceased person.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

Wrongful death claims are civil lawsuits that are brought against wrongdoers on behalf of a deceased person who, if alive, would have had the right to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Unlike criminal charges, like homicide or manslaughter that could result in the other party’s imprisonment, a successful wrongful death lawsuit results in financial compensation for the victim’s family. 

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What Caused Your Loved One’s Untimely Death?

Wrongful death cases can arise anytime a person or company’s negligence or intentional actions lead to the loss of a person’s life. Some of the most common scenarios wrongful death lawyers in las Vegas see involve:

  • Car Accidents 
  • Motorcycle Wrecks
  • Dangerous Property Conditions 
  • Nursing Home Negligence 
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Defective Products

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Who Can Be Held Liable for Wrongful Death in Las Vegas?

In some wrongful death cases, determining liability is fairly straightforward. 

  • The at-fault driver in a car accident
  • The property owner in a slip and fall
  • A nurse who was negligent in providing care

Often, however, identifying all parties who may be legally responsible is a bit more complicated. In some cases:

  • Liability for fatal car accidents can fall on the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company, a defective parts maker, a vehicle manufacturer, or even the entity that sold alcohol to an inebriated driver.
  • Individual staff members, nurses, nursing home facilities, and even cleaning companies and food preparers may liable for a nursing home resident’s death.
  • Property owners, managers, and controllers may not the only liable parties in a slip and fall accident death. Product manufacturers, maintenance personnel, cleaning companies, and even security firms may also be partially responsible for the dangerous condition. 

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Nevada?

Nevada law states that only personal representatives or the decedent’s estate and his or her heirs may file wrongful death claims. You may be considered an heir who can file a claim for compensation if you are:

  • The victim’s surviving spouse or domestic partner
  • A surviving child of the victim
  • A parent of the victim (if no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or child exists)
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Las Vegas Wrongful Death FAQs

The charges brought forth in a criminal case are separate from a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court. A wrongful death claim can be filed even if a criminal case is in progress. Family members can still recover damages in the civil suit regardless of the criminal court’s verdict.

If the wrongdoer dies before the wrongful death case was filed, a wrongful death lawsuit can still be filed against his or her estate.

The following damages may be available in Nevada wrongful death cases.

  • Medical bills
  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Lost wages and loss of future earnings
  • Lost benefits that would have been available to surviving heirs
  • Pain and suffering the victim endured
  • Loss of companionship
  • Grief and sorrow suffered by surviving family members
  • Punitive damages