The Law Offices of d’Oliveira and Associates, knows that if a loved one has died, you are devastated, overwhelmed, stressed, and scared. While we can’t turn back the hands of the clock and bring your loved one back, we can help. If a loved one has died through the negligence of another person, you and your family may be able to receive financial compensation for your loss. You can recover if your loved one’s death was caused by the negligence, carelessness, malpractice, wrongful act, or inaction of a person (or company).

Loved ones with hands on coffin of victim of negligence

Infamous wrongful death case:  O.J. Simpson

courtroomThe civil case against O.J. Simpson for the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson was a wrongful death case. The parents of both victims sued O.J. Simpson in civil court and were awarded over $33 million dollars. The burden of proof in a civil case is a “preponderance of the evidence;” it is a lower burden than that in a criminal case, which is “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

To understand “preponderance of the evidence,” picture a football field, which is a hundred yards long. To prove your wrongful death case and receive financial compensation for your losses, you need to get the ball to the 51-yard line. In a criminal case, the football has to be in the end zone.

In the O.J. Simpson case, prosecutors were unable to prove criminal guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; however, the wrongful death attorneys were able to prove that he was guilty by a preponderance of the evidence. If someone has killed one of your loved ones, he or she can be prosecuted in criminal court for murder or manslaughter and sued in civil court for wrongful death.

Common wrongful death case examples

Cases against:

  • Tobacco companies
  • Drunk drivers
  • Negligent drivers
  • Doctors and other medical professionals
  • Manufacturers of defective products
  • Airlines
  • Violent people

Applicable damages (compensation for you)

As a family member, you may recover for:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of benefits
  • Loss of companionship
  • Mental distress
  • General damages
  • Punitive damages

Get help as soon as possible

It is imperative that you seek legal help as soon as possible. Evidence must be preserved. Often memories fade and physical evidence is lost.  As soon as you call our law offices, we will get to work, investigating your case and preserving evidence. Additionally, each state has a mandated time limit for filing wrongful death claims. If your case isn’t filed by the deadline, known as the “statute of limitations,” you will not be permitted to file it. This means that you will never recover financial compensation for your losses.

Where to get help

RI Wrongful Death Lawyer meeting clients with wrongful death claim due to negligenceWhat do you do if you think your loved one was killed due to someone’s negligence? Call the Law Offices of d’Oliveira & Associates now. Our firm can help families just like yours. We will work aggressively to assert your rights and get you the compensation you and your family need and deserve. Email us or call now for FREE case evaluation. For your convenience, our telephones are answered 24 hours a day and 7 days a week (1-800-992-6878).

Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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