Have you recently experienced the unexpected death of a family member in an accident in Lima, OH? You shouldn’t have to figure out how to navigate this unimaginable loss on your own. Our Lima wrongful death lawyers can help you understand your rights and take legal action to recover compensation from those responsible for your loss.
The Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis brings over 150 years of collective legal experience and a multi-million dollar track record of success to complex personal injury disputes. Whether you’ve lost a family member in a car accident, because of a Lima healthcare provider’s negligence, due to a defective product, or because of a senseless act of violence, our award-winning Ohio trial attorneys are here to help you get the financial justice you deserve.
We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to contact our law office in Lima to speak with our trusted legal team today at (419) 404-4444.
How the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Helps Families After Fatal Accidents in Lima, OH
Even if you’re legally entitled to pursue damages through a wrongful death claim in Lima, Ohio, it’s important to know that whoever you’re up against – insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, or powerful corporations – will fight your efforts at every turn. They might appear to be sympathetic to your loss, but they’ll still be actively working to find a way to dismantle your claim and limit how much you’re awarded.
Hiring an experienced Lima personal injury attorney is the best way to stop these tactics in their tracks and increase the odds of getting the life-changing financial award you deserve.
Families in Lima choose the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis because they’re hometown attorneys who offer compassionate, individualized legal representation. We focus on our client’s best interests and aren’t afraid to invest the resources needed to challenge the most powerful adversaries in the state. It’s why we’re recognized by The National Trial Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and other respected legal organizations.
We know that you deserve time to grieve, which is why our legal team is ready to handle all aspects of your wrongful death case for you:
- Investigate the circumstances leading up to your loved one’s wrongful death
- Gather evidence needed to build a solid legal claim for damages, such as accident reports, cell phone records, property damage, witness statements, forensics reports, and medical records
- Hire expert witnesses to collaborate with our legal team and provide key insights into more technical or subjective aspects of your claim, including valuation
- File your wrongful death claim with the Lima County court clerk within the applicable statute of limitations
- Provide a system of support and helpful legal advice to you and your family members
- Aggressively seek a maximum settlement during negotiations
- Take your family’s wrongful death lawsuit to trial if the defense refuses to take responsibility for your loss and suffering
Force the defense to make things right by trusting our Ohio wrongful death attorneys in Lima to fight for your family. We’ll take your case on a contingency fee basis. You’ll pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your wrongful death claim.
We offer a free consultation. Contact us to learn more and discover why we’re the top-rated civil litigators you’ll want in your corner. Members of our law office are always available to take your call.
What is Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death is a type of personal injury claim that arises when a party’s death is the result of another party’s “wrongful act, neglect, or default.”
Pursuant to Ohio Code Section 2125.01, an action for wrongful death can be filed by the decedent’s personal representative if the decedent would have had the right to sue if they’d survived.
Put more simply, you may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim if a close family member was recently killed in an accident because of an act of criminal violence or due to another party’s failure to act. You can’t bring the claim yourself, though.
State law requires a wrongful death claim to be brought by your loved one’s personal representative for the “exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, the children, and the parents of the decedent.” This is either the representative named in their will or appointed by the court – typically a close friend, family member, or personal injury attorney.
Damages recovered through a wrongful death claim are to be “ distributed to the beneficiaries or any one or more of them.” The distribution of damages among the beneficiaries is to be “equitable” and based on the “regard for the injury and each’s” experience, as well as their “age and condition.”
Children or other beneficiaries under the age of 25 may have their share of the damages placed into a trust for their benefit.
Representing Families in All Types of Wrongful Death Cases in Lima
Wrongful death claims can arise whenever an act of violence, negligence, or default results in a person’s death.
At the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis, we fight for families who’ve lost loved ones in Lima, Ohio, as a result of:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Negligent security
- Matters of product liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
If you believe that your spouse, child, or parent’s death gives you the right to take legal action, call our Ohio wrongful death attorneys in Lima for help. We can help you understand your rights and, if you decide to take action, help you fight for the maximum award to which you’re entitled under the law.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded in a Lima Wrongful Death Case?
In Ohio, state law permits a plaintiff to request two types of compensatory damages in a wrongful death action: economic and non-economic, including money for:
- Lost wages, income, and benefits
- Lost inheritance
- Funeral expenses
- Medical bills incurred prior to death
- Lost services
- Loss of companionship, guidance, instruction, and love
- Mental anguish
Economic damages can be awarded without limitation. However, Ohio law caps the award of non-economic losses at $250,000 or three times the value of economic damages, unless the plaintiff suffers permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of the use of a limb, or the loss of a bodily organ system.
Punitive damages might also be awarded if your wrongful death lawsuit goes to trial and a jury finds that the defendant’s actions were malicious or displayed a conscious disregard for the decedent’s life.
You’ll be able to count on us to build a legal claim that’s designed to force the defense to take responsibility for their actions and make you whole. If you’re offered anything less than a maximum settlement, our award-winning Ohio trial attorneys will be prepared to bring your case to court.
Can Shared Fault Affect My Family’s Ohio Wrongful Death Settlement?
Yes. Ohio’s modified comparative negligence statute applies to most personal injury cases, including wrongful death claims.
So, if your loved one’s negligence contributed to their fatal accident, it can adversely affect your ability to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim.
Damages can be recovered as long as your family member isn’t assigned more than 50 percent of the blame for their fatal accident. These damages will be reduced proportionately. So, if your spouse was killed in a Lima car accident for which they’re assigned 10 percent of the blame, your damages will be reduced by 10 percent.
You’ll be unable to recover compensation if your family member’s shared responsibility is greater than half.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Ohio?
Ohio gives the personal representative two years from the date of the victim’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Once two years have passed, your family will forfeit the right to take legal action and demand compensation from the party responsible for your loved one’s death.
It’ll be important to take prompt legal action so that you can get the financial justice you need and deserve. Call the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis to get a jump start on your wrongful death case today.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Lima Wrongful Death Lawyer
You’ve suffered a devastating loss. Money won’t bring them back, but it can help to make life easier as you move forward. Our experienced Lima wrongful death lawyers have over 150 years of experience, and we’re ready to invest in your fight for compensation.
The Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis is a trusted legal advocate for families after life-changing accidents. We’ve helped clients win tens of millions in damages. Now, we stand ready to fight to get you a maximum monetary award, too.
Contact our law office to schedule a free consultation. We’re here to take your call 24 hours a day.
