Southaven Wrongful Death Lawyers Helping Families Heal After a Loved One Dies
Comprehensive counsel for people dealing with a tragic loss
Death is difficult, no matter when or where it happens. Some deaths are less complicated to process; others feel like a punch to the gut. But losing a loved one in a situation that may have been prevented, or because of another person’s negligence, is overwhelming. How can you move forward when you are consumed with the “what ifs”?
Taylor Jones Taylor cannot bring your loved one back to you, but the firm can help ease the daily stresses of living so you can focus on your heart and your family. With more than 90 years of combined experience taking personal injury and wrongful death cases to trial in Mississippi, the firm’s attorneys know how to build a successful case.
What is a wrongful death lawsuit?
In Mississippi, the immediate family members – spouses, parents, children and siblings – of a person who died “as a result of such wrongful or negligent act” can bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the person, people or entity which caused the death. Under the law, all of the family members may sue, but only as one unit; in other words, you cannot bring multiple wrongful death lawsuits against one party.
You can bring a lawsuit to recover:
- Any medical expenses, like hospital stays or surgeries
- The loss of income the deceased would have earned had he or she lived
- Any property damage your loved one incurred, like the cost of a totaled car if your family member died in a car accident
- Funeral costs, including the burial plot, gravestone or crematorium costs
You may also seek additional compensation for your loved one’s pain and suffering and, if you are the spouse of the deceased, your loss of consortium (i.e., loss of marital companionship) just as you could in a personal injury lawsuit. But just like an injury suit, wrongful death lawsuits in Mississippi follow the rule of comparative fault. Thus, if your loved one contributed in some way to his or her death, this can be taken into account by the Court and in some instances may negate any recovery.
Why should you file a wrongful death lawsuit?
A lot of people do not file wrongful death lawsuits right away because they find it distasteful. They are afraid people will think they are greedy. But the hard truth is that death is expensive. The National Funeral Directors Association claims that the median (meaning the number in the middle of a line of numbers) cost of a funeral is $8,343 – and that was three years ago. That does not include the cost of a gravestone, either, or any other expenses you might incur if you decide you want a special casket or a specific funeral home.
A wrongful death lawsuit does not make you greedy: it holds responsible parties accountable for the loss you have suffered – a loss that can cost you your home if the bills get too high. So many people wait too long to file a lawsuit out of fear, and by the time they realize they need help the statute of limitations has passed and there is nothing that can legally be done for them.
The attorneys of Taylor Jones Taylor understand how you feel. They handle all of the delicate aspects of your suit, and they fight aggressively on your behalf. You can trust in them to protect your family and your future.
Learn more about filing wrongful death lawsuits
You are not alone after the tragic death of your loved one: Taylor Jones Taylor is by your side. If you have questions about wrongful death lawsuits, or if you believe your loved one died as the result of negligence or wrongdoing, please call 662-342-1300, or fill out this contact form to make an appointment at one of the firm’s three offices in Southaven, Hernando or Olive Branch. The firm is proud to serve clients throughout Mississippi in towns such as Batesville, Clarksdale, Grenada, Oxford, Tupelo and Cleveland. How can we help you and your family?
