Having a loved one suffer personal injuries during an accident is emotionally overwhelming, but losing a person due to the negligent conduct of another person can be unbearable. The Shelly Leeke Law Firm, LLC can help you with every aspect of a wrongful death case. For more information contact our Myrthe Beach personal injury lawyers.
Defining Wrongful Death Lawsuits
It can be difficult for many individuals to think of a civil lawsuit during this time in their lives. It can take a long time to accept that someone close to us will never hold our hand or take a walk with us ever again. The devastating emotions people face at this time can make it extremely difficult for them to handle every part of a wrongful death case.
Many injured victims assert personal injury actions against the parties responsible for their injuries. However, wrongful death cases occur when surviving family members, such as a spouse or children, bring legal claims on behalf of the decedent.
Oftentimes, wrongful death cases are extraordinarily complex. These cases may involve criminal law, property law, civil law, and constitutional law. Many wrongful death attorneys in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, have extensive experience representing clients in wrongful death cases.
Having an objective professional guiding you through every stage of a wrongful death case is invaluable. You and your family members can benefit from retaining a wrongful death attorney to represent your interests.
Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
Typically, the damages in wrongful death lawsuits are those suffered by the survivors. The types of damages that surviving family members can claim in wrongful death cases include the following:
- Loss of support, guidance, affection, and love
- Lost value of domestic services
- Lost earnings
- Lost future earnings that the decedent could have earned in the future
- Medical bills
- Burial and funeral expenses
The damages that can be claimed in a wrongful death case will depend on the facts and circumstances of the decedent’s death. All wrongful death cases are unique, and it is important to inform a Myrtle Beach wrongful death attorney of all the facts associated with the decedent’s death.
The Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claim in South Carolina
In the State of South Carolina, claims for wrongful death must be brought within three years of the date of the decedent’s death. Also, the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate must bring the wrongful death claim. Some exceptions may apply as to who may bring a wrongful death claim under certain circumstances.
It may be possible for the surviving spouse or children to bring a wrongful death claim in South Carolina. It is important to file the wrongful death claim within the statute of limitations period. If you do not bring your claim within the three-year window, you risk losing your right to bring a wrongful death claim.
Although exceptions apply in specific circumstances, you will have to adhere to the statute of limitations period. Speaking to an experienced Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer can help you avoid running afoul of the statute of limitations.
