Newport News Wrongful Death Lawyers

NEWPORT NEWS WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYERS

LET OUR FAMILY HELP YOUR FAMILY SEEK JUSTICE IN HAMPTON ROADS AND ALL OF VIRGINIA

Unexpectedly losing a loved one is a tragedy that no one deserves to experience.
Grief, frustration, and the many other emotions such a loss brings are only heightened by the knowledge that someone else was to blame. If you lost a family member because someone else was negligent or in any situation caused through no fault of their own, you deserve to seek justice. Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, PLLC is here to help you accomplish this.

We know this is a difficult time. As a family-owned firm, we recognize the true value of family. We are here to help you face the challenges up ahead. When you come to our firm for legal counsel, you will find that we treat you like family. Our Newport News wrongful death attorneys are here to support and guide you through every step of your case – all the way through to the best result possible.

Call (757) 599-6050 today for experienced and caring counsel after the loss of a loved one. Together, we can seek the answers and justice your family deserves.

Wrongful Death: Causes & Liability

A wrongful death may be caused by negligence, intentional wrongdoing, carelessness, or inexperience. Determining the cause of wrongful death is important, as this will shed light on what party (whether an individual or a company) should be held legally accountable. Accountability translates to compensatory damages, typically paid to survive family members. This may cover medical bills, pain, and suffering, loss of earnings, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more. It cannot bring back a loved one, but it can help a family build
a more stable future – while exposing the at-fault party’s wrongdoing.

At Huffman & Huffman, we take on wrongful death cases involving:

When you work with our firm, we will stay in close communication with you. We will listen to you and will take the time to truly understand your concerns. We will fight for justice in your loved one’s name.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

You could be owed significant compensation for the losses you have experienced due to the untimely and avoidable passing of your loved one. The damages in a wrongful death claim filed in Virginia can reflect both economic and non-economic damage of varying types. When we are chosen to be your wrongful death attorneys, it will be part of our role to carefully calculate the full damages and pursue every penny in your name and that of your loved one.

The damages we can cite in your wrongful death claim include:

Funeral and burial expenses, up to a “reasonable” cap
Medical costs incurred during your loved one’s final treatments or
hospitalization
Income your loved one likely would have earned in life
Value of your loved one’s day-to-day care and around-the-home services
Value of guidance and companionship your loved one provided your family
Emotional trauma and anguish suffered by you and your family

In rare cases that involve a “wanton” disregard for human life, punitive damages can be issued by the court. Punitive damages further penalize the defendant and can be set to any amount the court deems fair. For example, if someone caused a fatal drunk driving accident while going 75 mph down a quiet neighborhood street, then punitive damages might be approved.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

The only party who can file a wrongful death claim under Virginia law is the representative of the deceased person’s estate. This executor can be named in the deceased’s estate plan, or they can be assigned by the court if no one has been named. Spouses and children are the two parties most often named to be executors, but parents can be as well.
Regardless of who files the wrongful death claim, the beneficiaries of any damages collected remain the same, which include a spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and dependent adults, with legal priority going in that order.

Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

You only have two years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death claim in Virginia. This statute of limitations does not begin on the day they were injured or diagnosed with a fatal illness. When the two years pass – which can happen faster than you think because grieving can make it simple to lose track of time – the court will block any claims filed after.

Compassion Matters When Working on Your Case

A wrongful death case is not like a typical personal injury claim in many ways, including how it will weigh on you mentally and emotionally. It is important to approach your case with sensitivity and compassion. Our Newport News wrongful death attorneys are here to guide you and your family through this troubling time without adding more stress to your lives, just as we have done for so many clients, neighbors, and friends in our communities for years.

Wrongful Death