Findlay Wrongful Death Lawyer

Have you lost a close family member because of an accident or a criminal act of violence in Findlay, Ohio? Contact the award-winning team at the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Personal Injury Lawyers at (419) 404-4444 for a free consultation. Your family deserves financial justice, and our Findlay wrongful death lawyers can help you demand the compensation you deserve.

The Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Personal Injury Lawyers is a powerhouse personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of its neighbors in Findlay, OH. We’re award-winning civil trial attorneys with over 150 years of combined experience and a multi-million-dollar track record of success.

In the wake of tragedies, we’ve helped our clients win tens of millions of dollars in settlement agreements and jury awards. Now, we’re ready to do everything we can to help your family during this devastating time in your lives, too. Contact our Findlay personal injury attorneys today to get started.

Why Choose Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis for Help with Your Wrongful Death Case in Findlay, OH

Why Choose Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis for Help with Your Wrongful Death Case in Findlay, OH

Just because you can pursue compensation in the wake of a loved one’s death, it doesn’t mean that the claims process will be easy or that the at-fault party will actively try to make things right. You’ll need to be assertive and aggressive as you demand justice. 

That’s why our Findlay personal injury lawyers need to be your first call. Our law firm offers the compassionate client service you deserve and the kind of resources you’ll need to take on a powerful insurance company and win.

We’re five-star rated on Google and one of the most trusted names in local personal injury litigation by:

  • The National Trial Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers
  • The Ohio Association for Justice
  • The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • The Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys

You need time to grieve your loss and figure out how to move forward. Leave your fight for financial justice to our firm and take all the time you need. We offer a complimentary case review. Call our Findlay wrongful death attorneys today to learn more.

What Is a Wrongful Death Case?

Wrongful death is defined in Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.01 as a death of a person “caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default which would have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages if death had not ensued.”

Typically, a person who is injured in an accident, because of a dangerous product, or as the result of a crime, can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation from the at-fault party. When the person dies from their injuries, the right to sue is not totally lost. Instead, it creates a situation in which certain individuals can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, the right to sue shifts from the decedent to another party. Specifically, it shifts to their personal representative. The personal representative is either named in the decedent’s will or appointed by a court. Typically, it’s a spouse, child, or a close friend or family member.

Do I Have a Wrongful Death Case?

You might have the right to benefit from a wrongful death case if you’ve recently suffered the unexpected and devastating loss of a family member because of another party’s negligence, a dangerous product, or a crime.

Often, wrongful death cases in Findlay, OH, are pursued by families who’ve experienced losses because of:

If you’re the personal representative of your loved one’s estate, you can generally file a wrongful death lawsuit with your local court. If you’re not the personal representative, you can usually petition the representative to file a claim so that you and/or other surviving family members can be compensated for the considerable hardships and trauma you’ve endured.

What Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?

Every situation is different, so it’s hard to say what your specific wrongful death case could be worth without knowing more about your loved one, their life, and how their death will impact you and your family.

However, several factors are almost always relevant when calculating the potential value of a wrongful death claim:

  • The decedent’s age 
  • The decedent’s life expectancy before they were fatally injured
  • Whether the decedent died in a work-related accident or because of an occupational disease
  • The decedent’s income and earning capacity
  • The degree to which surviving family members, including spouses and children, relied upon the decedent for financial support or support within the household
  • The decedent’s contributory fault for their fatal accident
  • Available insurance coverage and policy limits
  • The nature of the relationship between the victim and their close surviving family members

The more of an impact a person’s death has on their spouse, children, and/or parents, the higher the potential value of the wrongful death case. 

What Damages Can Be Awarded to Families in a Findlay Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

In Ohio, both economic damages and non-economic damages can be awarded to surviving heirs in a wrongful death lawsuit.

This can include money for:

  • The value of household services the victim would have provided if they’d survived
  • The victim’s projected lifetime income and monetary support for their family
  • Loss of inheritance
  • Mental anguish 
  • Loss of companionship, consortium, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance, counsel, instruction, training, and education
  • Reasonable funeral and burial expenses
  • Medical expenses incurred before the victim passed away

Punitive damages can also be awarded in situations where it’s clear that the defendant acted maliciously or with a reckless indifference to the victim’s life and safety. However, these are limited to wrongful death lawsuits that reach trial. If your wrongful death claim settles privately, punitive damages won’t be on the table.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney in Findlay?

There is no out-of-pocket cost to hire our wrongful death lawyers in Findlay, OH. We represent spouses, children, parents, and other next of kin on a contingency fee basis.

We don’t get paid until we win compensation for your family’s wrongful death case. If we don’t win, you’ll pay nothing at all. When we obtain a settlement or win a jury award for you at trial, our attorney fees are simply deducted from that monetary award. The typical fee varies from case to case. 

Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule typically applies to most civil personal injury cases, including wrongful death claims. In these cases, it’s the decedent’s shared fault that matters.

If your loved one was recently killed in a fatal car crash and assigned up to 50% of the blame for the collision, any damages awarded to your family in a wrongful death claim would be subject to reduction by up to 50%. If they’re more than 51% responsible, your family may not be entitled to any damages.

Your family member isn’t here to fight for themself, tell their side of the story, or offer their unique perspective on what happened. You should expect the insurance company to try to point fingers and blame your loved one for their fatal wounds. It’s essential to anticipate these tactics and have a plan in place to counter them. 

When you hire our Ohio wrongful death attorneys to represent your family, you won’t have to worry about unsubstantiated claims of contributory fault. We’ll dispute the legitimacy of those claims, work to discredit evidence or witness testimony offered by the defense, and minimize the impact victim-blaming tactics have on your financial recovery.

What’s the Statute of Limitations on Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Ohio?

A wrongful death lawsuit must generally be filed with an Ohio state court within two years of the date a victim passes away.

You usually must file your wrongful death lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. Once you’ve reached the second anniversary of your family member’s death, you’ll typically have lost the right to demand compensation from the person responsible for your devastating loss.

Arrange a Free Case Review With an Experienced Findlay Wrongful Death Lawyer

Our Findlay wrongful death lawyers appreciate that money won’t bring your family member back to you. It can’t turn back time or take away your pain. An influx of compensation can, however, alleviate a lot of the financial burdens and struggles you’re experiencing right now. It can also provide some closure and a sense of justice. 

We want to help you achieve the best possible results as you navigate this trying time in your life. Leave the stress of a wrongful death lawsuit to the award-winning team at the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis. Call us to learn more. Your first consultation is free.