The loss of a family member can never be fairly compensated. With the help of our Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer, you have the resources and legal expertise to fight against anyone who caused this loss. At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer is trusted, experienced, and proven to be a dedicated advocate for our clients.
The Importance of a Trusted Wrongful Death Lawyer in Myrtle Beach
Having a loved one suffer personal injuries during an accident is emotionally overwhelming. Losing a cherished relative due to the negligent conduct of another person can be unbearable. A compassionate Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer with Shelly Leeke Law Firm can help you hold the at-fault party accountable.
You need the legal support and guidance of a dedicated and experienced Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer to help you get through these difficult times. Do not let the liable party get away with it. Contact our office to request a free consultation today and find out what steps your family will need to take to get justice for your loved one.
Speak to our wrongful death attorney in Myrtle Beach to receive honest, transparent legal support from a law firm with experience. Expect us to provide you with comprehensive support and legal guidance. If, for any reason, you do not win your case, you owe us nothing in compensation, eliminating any risk of taking action.
Why Choose Us to Represent You in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
In an important case like this, there is no way that you should have anything but legal support and guidance from an attorney you trust. We can promise you that our legal team will provide comprehensive legal advocacy for you and utilize our experience and passion to help pursue fair compensation. Some of the benefits of working with the Shelly Leeke Law Firm include:
- Experience that is proven: With years of experience in personal injury legal matters in South Carolina, you can expect us to be ready for the challenge ahead.
- A reputation for fierce advocacy: In a courtroom, advocacy and a reputation for not standing down matters, but it also matters when going up against powerful insurance companies to try to obtain a fair settlement. Let that experience fight for you.
- Superior compassion and support: There is a wide range of loss and emotion you are facing now, and without the legal support and guidance you need from a trusted wrongful death attorney, your case is at risk, and the challenges increase.
Trust our wrongful death lawyer in Myrtle Beach to provide you with the guidance and support you need throughout this legal process. That includes providing you with the hands-on support you need, no matter who has done this to your family or the challenges that you may face in seeking compensation for your losses. At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we care about your long-term outcome and fight passionately to support you at every stage of this process.
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 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 deceased. Oftentimes, wrongful death cases are extraordinarily complex and may involve criminal law, property law, civil law, and constitutional law.
You need a Myrtle Beach wrongful death attorney with Shelly Leeke Law Firm, who has 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 lawyer to represent your interests.
How Wrongful Death Actions in Myrtle Beach Are Unlike Criminal Cases
Wrongful death legal actions are complex because there is so much on the line. Insurance companies will do anything they can to disprove them, and that puts your case at risk. It helps to understand what challenges you face through this process. You will also learn that we will help you navigate this process from start to finish.
Wrongful death claims are quite different from the criminal charges the defendant may face for causing the death of your loved one. Wrongful death actions give you an opportunity to take control and fight to ensure justice is served. However, that does not necessarily mean the defendant will be charged criminally, either.
Consider the complications that come from wrongful death legal matters. Before you move forward, our legal team wants you to see the work we do to prove that you deserve compensation in cases like this. Let us fight for you.
The Burden of Proof
When a defendant is charged criminally, the prosecutor must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a guilty verdict. If there is any doubt regarding the defendant’s guilt, jurors must not convict. This is not how cases unfold in civil court and wrongful death lawsuits.
In wrongful death claims, the burden of proof is based on a preponderance of the evidence. This is legal talk, which just means the evidence must convince the jury of the defendant’s responsibility in causing your loved one’s death. If the evidence presented suggests that the defendant is most likely at fault, the jury can find them liable for your family member’s fatal injuries.
Our wrongful death attorney in Myrtle Beach will work closely with you to gather all of the proof necessary. You can expect us to be advocates for your family member’s right to compensation, as well as dedicated attorneys who want to make those who hurt you pay for it. We will shoulder the burden of proof to pursue fair compensation for you.
Penalties of Guilt or Liability
When tried in criminal court, if a defendant is convicted, they face criminal sentencing. Depending on the cause of your loved one’s death, the defendant could be sentenced to jail or prison time, be required to pay fines, complete community service, and even pay restitution to your family. The consequences are much different in wrongful death court.
If a defendant is found liable in civil court, they can be ordered to compensate the decedent’s personal representatives and surviving family members. Some defendants may have insurance coverage or be willing to settle without a formal trial. However, those without sufficient insurance or willing to take their chances at trial could face a monetary judgment when found liable.
Our goal as your wrongful death attorney is to provide you with hands-on support. We want to help you recover financial compensation for any of the damages you suffered so that you can move your life forward. While going after the guilty party is important for many, our priority is helping you move forward.
Common Types of Wrongful Death Accidents and Events
Sadly, fatal injuries can happen in nearly any type of accident or event. In some of the cases, the defendant had no intention of causing the accident or harming the decedent. In others, they engage in intentionally harmful or malicious actions specifically to cause catastrophic bodily injury or death.
In either case, the liable party should be brought to justice. If it was not for their actions, your cherished family member may not have passed away. Our Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer will pursue fair compensation for you, no matter what occurred. With our experience, you can expect outstanding support.
Working with a wrongful death attorney who has experience in the type of loss you are facing is critically important. Our Myrtle Beach wrongful death attorneys have extensive experience. Here are some of the most common types of incidents known for resulting in wrongful death:
Negligence-Based Accidents
Negligence-based accidents can include any type of accident that was caused by the recklessness or misconduct of another. In almost all of these cases, the liable party’s actions or lack of action contribute to the decedent’s death. Some examples could include:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Work-related accidents
- Swimming pool drownings
- Commercial truck accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
Set up a free consultation with our wrongful death attorneys in Myrtle Beach for guidance if your family member suffered losses in cases like these. If so, we will pursue aggressive legal representation for your claim and fight to ensure you receive exceptional support. Do not wait to give us a call for a consultation.
Intentional Harm
Horrific acts of violence often result in fatal injuries. Violent acts can occur anywhere and at any time. The liable party may face assault, vehicular manslaughter, or even homicide charges, depending on the specific circumstances of the case.
They will also face the consequences of being found liable if your wrongful death action is successful. There is no way that anything they pay towards these losses will be enough. Yet, it can help you to ensure you do not continue to suffer financially from their actions.
Our Myrtle Beach wrongful death attorneys will help you determine what legal strategy is best suited for your situation. We will answer your questions honestly and provide transparent support. Expect us to aggressively pursue legal action against anyone who caused your family this type of loss.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice and nursing home abuse occur with alarming frequency. Any healthcare provider can be held accountable when their negligence or misconduct results in severe bodily injury or death. You may even have grounds for legal action against the hospital or healthcare facility where your relative was receiving treatment.
Some examples of medical malpractice could include failure to diagnose or treat, surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, medication errors, birth injuries, and more. Most healthcare providers are equipped with malpractice insurance coverage specifically designed to cover financial losses when a medical professional makes a mistake or error. Sadly, far too many insurance providers and negligent healthcare providers refuse to accept responsibility for their actions or financial obligations.
You may need to get your wrongful death lawyer in Myrtle Beach, SC, involved as soon as possible. We can negotiate with insurers and are not intimidated by the defendant or their legal representative. Allow us to review the details of your loved one’s death and determine how you can make the at-fault party pay.
Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
Typically, the damages in wrongful death lawsuits are those suffered by the survivors. However, damages can be paid to both surviving family members and the decedent’s estate. The types of damages that surviving family members may be able to 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 your wrongful death attorney in Myrtle Beach, SC, of all the facts associated with the decedent’s death. This way, you can ensure every loss is accounted for when calculating the value of your claim.
Limitations Surrounding Wrongful Death Claims in Myrtle Beach
In the state of South Carolina, claims for wrongful death must be brought within three years of the date of the decedent’s death. 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.
Also, the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate must bring the wrongful death claim. Some exceptions may apply to those 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 under South Carolina’s wrongful death laws.
Although exceptions apply in specific circumstances, you will have to adhere to the statute of limitations period. Speaking to a knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer can help you avoid running afoul of the statute of limitations. You can also find out whether you have the authority to bring a wrongful death action on behalf of the decedent.
Unsure if You Have a Wrongful Death Case? We Can Help You
Losing a treasured relative can feel as though the world is crashing down on you. It is crucial to remain calm and control what you can. Your family may be entitled to financial compensation through a wrongful death action. With the help of a Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer, you can find out what your specific rights and limitations are, learning what legal steps you could take without any risk of having to move forward.
During a free consultation, we offer information after listening to your case. We never pressure you into taking action or promise more than we believe we can help you to recover. Because of this, we encourage you to reach out to our wrongful death attorneys to discuss your case and learn what legal options you may have.
In many situations, we will be able to provide you with insight into the potential value of your case as well as any legal actions that can be taken to make sure the other party is held accountable. Expect us to be your advocate during this process so that you do not have to face insurance companies on your own. Set up a free consultation with our legal team today to find out what your rights are.
Connect with Myrtle Beach’s Highly-Regarded Wrongful Death Law Firm Today
Are you ready to find out who has the authority to file the claim? Are you ready to demand justice for your loved one’s death? Fill out our quick contact form or call an experienced Myrtle Beach wrongful death attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm to schedule your free consultation and get started on your claim as soon as today.
