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Practice Areas You do not have to handle a legal claim alone while also grieving the death of a family member. The Fort Collins wrongful death attorneys at Fang Law Firm can help. We will stand with you during this difficult time. Learn more today by contacting us for a free consultation.
If someone else’s carelessness or malicious intent to harm led to the death of someone you loved, you have the right to seek compensation and hold the responsible person accountable. Colorado’s civil justice system allows you to pursue justice in the form of a financial award for the loss of a deceased loved one.
In Colorado, the definition of wrongful death is the loss of one person’s life due to the carelessness, recklessness or intentional behavior of another. It is a grave wrongdoing that leads – either intentionally or unintentionally – to the victim’s death. Wrongful death can be caused by a car accident, work accident, premises accident, defective product or criminal actions.
In civil law, wrongful death is a type of claim that certain surviving loved ones can file after a preventable death. It is a claim to financial damages to cover the economic and noneconomic losses the family incurred due to the death.
Like every state, Colorado has a statute of limitations that applies to wrongful death lawsuits. A statute of limitations is a legal deadline. Missing this deadline as the filing party will bar you from financial recovery, in most cases. The courts only give limited exceptions to this rule.
In Colorado, you must file a wrongful death claim within no more than two years from the date of your loved one’s death. This may not be the same day as the accident that caused the fatal injury, depending on the situation. If your loved one survived his or her injuries for a time, you will have two years from the date of death rather than the date of the accident to file.
Another law in Colorado restricts the right to file only to the deceased person’s spouse for the first year after the death. In the second year, the surviving spouse and any surviving children may file. If the decedent does not have a surviving spouse or child, his or her parents may file a wrongful death claim instead.
Filing a wrongful death claim in Fort Collins is not all about the money. Families file these lawsuits to give their deceased loved ones a voice in the civil courts. Bringing a claim can hold someone responsible for causing the fatal injury, providing the deceased party with justice and validation. However, a wrongful death claim can also serve to give surviving family members the financial compensation they deserve for their losses:
A financial award from the at-fault party could allow your family to pay off your loved one’s debts, pay the bills and have greater peace of mind moving forward. If your family lost its breadwinner, it is especially important to seek damages from the at-fault party with help from a Fort Collins wrongful death lawyer. Your family may also have the right to file what is known as a survival action to claim damages for certain losses to the deceased person’s estate.
Wrongful death is something no family should have to endure. At Fang Law Firm, we are committed to helping families in Fort Collins demand justice and compensation for preventable losses of life. We can help you and your family during this difficult time. Please call (720) 379-6363 or contact us online today to request a free consultation.