Member of the Colorado Bar Association since 2014. Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in Colorado car accidents, other auto accidents, and Colorado personal injury incidents.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Springs Law Group and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer, Christopher Nicolaysen, you can do so here.
Springs Law Group does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
Life is never the same after losing a beloved family member.
Everywhere you go, you face reminders of your loved one’s absence.
If somebody else was responsible for their death, that loss can be even more devastating.
If you believe that somebody else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct caused your loved one to die, you may be entitled to recover compensation with assistance from a personal injury attorney.
A Castle Rock wrongful death lawyer could review the details from your loved one’s sudden passing to determine if your family might be eligible for financial relief to compensate you for your loss.
Generally, an injured person has the right sue another party in a personal injury suit if the defendant’s actions or inactions caused their losses.
If this person dies as a result of their injuries and is unable to file a lawsuit, this party’s surviving family members can generally sue that defendant in a wrongful death suit.
These lawsuits are civil actions that family members can bring at the same time as or instead of a criminal prosecution.
However, there is a lesser burden of proof in a civil case.
Instead of having to prove that the defendant caused the death beyond a reasonable doubt, surviving family members would need to demonstrate that the defendant’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing more likely than not caused their loved one to die.
The penalties in civil actions are also different from criminal prosecutions.
Unlike with a criminal action where a conviction can result in jail time for a defendant, a civil wrongful death action can result in the opposing party paying damages to the deceased person’s surviving family members.
Surviving family members generally must file these cases within two years of their loved one’s death.
Our local attorneys could help family members seek justice through a wrongful death case if they believe that their loved one died due to another person’s actions.
Not every family member can file a wrongful death action.
Spouses generally have the exclusive power to file suit in the first year after their significant other’s death.
With the surviving spouse’s consent, the heirs, usually the deceased person’s children, can also file suit during the first year.
If there is no spouse, the heirs or the designated beneficiary can file suit.
During the second year after a death, the spouse, the heirs, or the designated beneficiary may file suit.
In the event that there is no spouse or children, the deceased person’s parents may file suit.
Any kind of incident that results in an untimely death can be the subject of a wrongful death action.
Some of the most common reasons for these cases include:
Our Castle Rock attorneys could investigate the evidence surrounding a wrongful death case to determine its cause and who may be legally responsible.
We could skillfully examine any police reports, eyewitness testimony, incident reports, medical records, as well as any other information relevant to the case.
Nothing can bring your lost loved one back to you, but a settlement could help ease some of your financial difficulties you may be facing after your loved one’s passing.
Obtaining a damages award from the person responsible for your loved one’s death could give you peace of mind knowing that you could achieve some measure of justice on behalf of your loved one.
Reach out to a Castle Rock wrongful death lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
Partner
Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in car accidents due to no fault of their own.
The personal injury matters include auto accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and trucking accidents.
Chris truly enjoys helping clients through a difficult time and helping them get the compensation they deserve.
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I was uneasy about reaching out to a law firm after being in an accident that left me injured and my vehicle totaled. I don’t care for the idea of suing for what was very clearly an accident. However, after learning more about the overall process of working with a professional team to navigate the murky waters of the insurance world, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the experience wasn’t as gross as I’d originally felt about it.
Springs Law is very friendly and professional. I always felt that they were on my side and cared about my injury and what I was going through. I highly recommend them.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
I never have a problem with getting a response when I need them – which is not the case with most other firms. They really truly care about each client. As a plus, they always have positive attitudes, which matters tremendously when you are in a stressful legal situation.
Big thanks to Mr. Jake Kimbell and his team for their assistance with my case. He helped me through an incredibly challenging part of my life, and most importantly helped navigate through the convoluted legal channels of my case. I cannot thank him and his team enough for their support.
The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
