wrongful death attorneyThere are no words to describe the pain after a loved one is taken away. An unexpected death can leave you and your family overwhelmed by grief and anger, searching for answers while trying to cope with the loss. Families are placed under both an emotional and financial burden: they struggle to pay medical bills, house payments, and daily living expenses on half of their usual income—and they have lost the emotional support and love of a person they had come to depend on.

Wrongful Death Claims Offer Closure and Compensation

While no amount of money can take the place of your loved one, it is possible to get justice for your lost family member and the funds you need to make up for lost income. At Mahaney & Pappas, LLP, we investigate the circumstances of your case, deal with the insurance companies on your behalf, and see who may be liable for the death, allowing you to grieve in peace.

We will do everything possible to recover your:

  • Economic damages. The loss of a spouse or breadwinner can have devastating financial consequences for the family. A wrongful death claim can provide you with a lump sum payment for the income that the deceased would have earned in his or her lifetime, including bonuses, pension plans, medical coverage, and the inheritance value of future earnings. Families can also be reimbursed for their medical and funeral expenses incurred as a result of the death.
  • Non-economic damages. The emotional suffering of a family is often far greater than the financial cost. For this reason, courts allow families and spouses to recover non-economic damages to compensate for mental anguish due to the loss of the care, companionship, protection, guidance, advice, and nurturing the deceased would have given family members.
  • Punitive damages. If the court decides that the death was caused by malicious, willful, wanton or reckless conduct, or by the gross negligence of the negligent party, it may also order the person at fault to pay punitive damages as a punishment. These damages are usually awarded if the death was caused by medical malpractice, a defective product, or nursing home abuse or neglect.
  • Insurance coverage. Some insurers will prey on the grief of surviving family members by forcing them to accept low settlements for medical coverage and lost property. We can take an insurance company to court to help you collect the full amount you are owed from your various policies.
  • Workers’ compensation. If your loved one’s fatal injury occurred while he or she was at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in addition to your claim. Victims of death on the job (such as construction site accidents) have a right to workers compensation and possibly a third party negligence claim, which can be filed by their survivors to hold the negligent parties accountable.

You Only Have a Limited Time to Get Justice for Your Loss

Under Massachusetts law, survivors have up to three years of the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. This may seem like a long time, but with each day that passes, the evidence in your case will be swept away or even intentionally destroyed, making it more difficult to prove your case in court. Wrongful death cases can be complex legal matters. We can help answer the many questions you and your family may about wrongful death cases if a loved one has died in an accident. 

If someone you love was killed in a car crash, on-the-job injury, or other fatal accident, we can help you hold the person at fault accountable for your suffering. Call Mahaney & Pappas, LLP at our toll free number and we will get back to you promptly, day or night, weekday or weekend.