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Fall River Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one is among the most painful experiences someone can endure. When their death has resulted from another person’s negligence, the pain only multiplies. While nothing can undo the loss, a wrongful death claim can provide financial stability and a powerful sense of accountability during an incredibly challenging time.

You do not have to face this legal process alone. Rob Levine Law is here to help you navigate your rights and pursue fair compensation for your family’s losses. If you’re considering filing a wrongful death claim in Fall River, call us today at (866) 767-9178 to speak with a compassionate member of our team about your case.

Find out what your case is worth.

How Our Fall River Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help You Move Forward

You deserve trusted legal guidance as you navigate the aftermath of a loved one’s untimely death. When you turn to our team, we’ll handle every aspect of the legal process while you focus on grieving and moving forward. Our attorneys will investigate the circumstances of your loved one’s death, determine who’s at fault, calculate your damages, and pursue maximum compensation for your family’s suffering.

Over the past 25 years, our Fall River law firm has earned a reputation for having one of the most aggressive approaches to personal injury and wrongful death litigation in the tri-state area. We’ve helped more than 50,000 injured people and grieving families secure the compensation and benefits they deserve, recovering over $2 billion in results for our clients.

We’re committed to reducing your stress during this difficult time, which is why we offer several convenient ways to meet with our attorneys. Our team is available for remote or in-person meetings from one of our offices located throughout Massachusetts and New England, or we can travel directly to you.

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Ways the Cause of Your Loved One’s Death Could Impact Your Claim

Many scenarios can lead to a wrongful death claim. The cause of your loved one’s death can influence both liability and the compensation you can recover, significantly affecting how our attorneys approach the case:

  • Traffic accidents: A fatal motor vehicle accident may involve multiple at-fault parties, such as a reckless driver, a trucking company, a vehicle manufacturer, or a government entity. Several sources of compensation may also be available under Massachusetts’s auto insurance system, including Personal Injury Protection coverage and the other driver’s liability policy.
  • Medical malpractice cases: If a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care, they may be liable for your loved one’s death. These cases often require testimony from third-party medical experts.
  • Workplace accidents: If your loved one passed away as a result of their job duties, workers’ compensation insurance may provide benefits to your family. You may also have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit if a third party, such as a contractor or property owner, contributed to the accident.

How Long Do You Have To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has a three-year statute of limitations for most wrongful death cases. That means you generally have three years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, you may lose your right to recover compensation. However, certain exceptions may extend the filing deadline in specific circumstances.

One exception is the discovery rule. If you didn’t discover the cause of your loved one’s death until a later date, the three-year countdown may begin on the date of discovery.

Fraudulent concealment could also impact your case’s filing deadline. If the defendant intentionally hid their negligence or their involvement in the death, the deadline may be extended until you discover their misconduct.

Who May Be Liable for Your Loved One’s Death?

Anyone whose negligence contributed to your loved one’s death could be liable. Proving negligence requires showing that the party owed the deceased person a duty of care, failed to act reasonably under the circumstances, and caused your loved one’s fatal injuries due to that failure.

In many cases, liability does not fall on a single individual or company. Multiple parties may share responsibility, making it crucial to identify every possible source of compensation. Using evidence such as the police report, our Fall River wrongful death attorneys can help you determine who’s at fault and pursue maximum compensation from each liable party.

Common Liable Parties in Fall River Wrongful Death Cases

The exact identity of the liable party will depend on the circumstances of your loved one’s death, but common examples include:

  • Drivers: If your loved one died in a traffic collision, the at-fault driver may be liable for reckless driving behaviors, such as texting behind the wheel, speeding, drunk driving, or failure to yield.
  • Healthcare providers: Doctors, nurses, hospitals, nursing homes, or other healthcare providers could be liable if their failure to provide the standard of care caused your loved one’s death.
  • Product manufacturers: A manufacturer may face liability if a defective or dangerous product, such as a medication, contributed to your loved one’s death.
  • Employers: If your loved one has died while performing their job duties, workers’ compensation insurance may provide death benefits. This system typically limits your ability to sue your loved one’s employer, but rare exceptions apply. Depending on the circumstances, you may also have the right to sue a third party, such as a contractor, responsible for hazardous workplace conditions.

Types of Compensation Available in Fall River Wrongful Death Claims

If you lost a loved one to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for the following wrongful death damages:

  • Economic damages: These compensate you for the financial consequences of your loved one’s death. Common examples include funeral and burial expenses, the loss of your loved one’s financial contributions, and the value of their household support or childcare services.
  • Non-economic damages: These reflect the harder-to-quantify impacts, such as loss of consortium, care, companionship, comfort, or guidance sustained by the family.

Punitive damages may also be available in wrongful death cases involving extreme recklessness or intentional harm. These aim to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.

Pursuing Additional Compensation Through a Survival Claim

You may also be eligible to pursue additional damages on your loved one’s behalf through a survival claim. While a wrongful death claim focuses on the surviving family’s losses, a survival claim allows the deceased person’s estate to pursue compensation for the damages the deceased could have recovered if they had survived their injuries. For example, a survival claim may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and the pain and suffering they experienced after suffering their fatal injury.

Our Fall River Wrongful Death Lawyers Are Ready to Help You Pursue Justice

We understand that this is an incredibly painful time for your family, and taking legal action may not be your priority right now. Our team is here whenever you feel ready to discuss your options. When that time comes, we can handle the legal burden while you focus on healing and honoring your loved one’s memory.

Our Fall River wrongful death law firm is dedicated to advocating for people in need. As part of our strong ethical standards, we prioritize honest communication and fee transparency. Under our Fee Free Guarantee®, we charge nothing unless you win. Our contingency fee for most wrongful death cases is 33%, and we offer a discounted rate of 25% to first responders and military personnel.

When you’re ready to start moving forward, contact us online or call (866) 767-9178 for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 and offer the option to meet remotely, in one of our offices, or at your home.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Fall River, Massachusetts

Get answers to some of the most common questions we receive from families of wrongful death victims in Fall River.

Who Has the Legal Standing to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Fall River?

In Massachusetts, only the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate has the authority to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This individual acts on behalf of the family members who are eligible to recover compensation, such as the deceased’s spouse or children.

Through a personal injury claim, an injured person seeks compensation for the losses they’ve suffered because of their injuries. In contrast, a wrongful death claim allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for their own losses resulting from a loved one’s death.

Yes. Our Fall River personal injury attorneys may subpoena surveillance footage from an industrial site if we believe it captured the fatal machinery failure. A subpoena is a legal demand requiring a company to preserve and turn over evidence relevant to the case.

Yes, a nursing home in Fall River may be liable for wrongful death if a resident died from a preventable fall, an untreated infection, or another form of neglect. Nursing homes have a duty to provide residents with reasonable care, and preventable deaths often occur due to breaches of that responsibility.

If the person responsible for your loved one’s death is facing criminal charges for the incident, it may not necessarily impact the timeline of your civil lawsuit. Civil and criminal cases are completely separate, but in some situations, portions of the civil case may be delayed while the criminal matter proceeds. However, your family still has the right to pursue a wrongful death claim regardless of the status of any criminal prosecution.

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Warwick, RI

3970 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886

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