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Colorado Wrongful Death

When a loved one suffers a wrongful death because of someone else’s negligence in Colorado, the pain of the tragedy can be difficult to bear. On top of that, such a loss can come with unforeseen bills that make the circumstances that much more overwhelming. If your loved one has suffered a wrongful death, a wrongful death lawyer in Colorado can help you and your family pursue compensation.

Nothing can replace your lost loved one, but getting financial compensation can offset the bills and be a form of justice that is one positive step toward making things right. When you get help for your Colorado wrongful death claim, you are more likely to receive the compensation you deserve.

Wrongful Death in Colorado

A wrongful death is a type of civil lawsuit in Colorado that attempts to show beyond a preponderance of evidence that a person or company caused the death of another. To prove this liability, one must show their recklessness, negligence, or intentional actions were the direct cause of the decedent’s death.

Colorado wrongful death cases are similar to personal injury cases except someone has to pursue the claim on the decedent’s behalf. Some examples of types of cases that could qualify as wrongful death are the following:

  • Medical malpractice
  • Car accident
  • Swimming pool accident
  • Accidental poisoning or overdose
  • Workplace accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents

If you believe you have a wrongful death claim, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

In wrongful death cases, state laws delineate who can file on behalf of the decedent, and these laws vary state by state. In Colorado, who can file is specific to the time period of filing after death. Within the first year of your loved one’s death, only the surviving spouse may file a claim. In the second year, both the surviving spouse and the decedent’s children are allowed to file a claim.

If the decedent has no surviving spouse or children, their parents are allowed to file a claim on their behalf. If you have questions about your eligibility to file for a wrongful death suit, an attorney can answer them.

Types of Compensation

When you file a Colorado wrongful death case, you’re hoping to recover damages for the loss of your loved one. The types of compensation you can receive are broken down into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are things like medical bills and lost income that have a calculable monetary value; non-economic damages, on the other hand, are for the intangible losses you’ve experienced such as pain and suffering and loss of companionship. Below is a list of the most common damages you can recover in a wrongful death lawsuit:

  1. Medical bills
  2. Loss of future income
  3. Loss of parental guidance
  4. Loss of future inheritance
  5. Loss of the decedent’s benefits
  6. Punitive damages
  7. Loss of spousal companionship

To know what damages apply to your case, let an experienced lawyer review your case.

Statute of Limitations

In Colorado, those eligible to file a wrongful death case on the decedent’s behalf have a two year window to do so starting on the date of death. There are a few exceptions to this rule, including the window being extended to three years if the death was the result of a car wreck. To learn more about the statute of limitations and how it affects your case, talk to an attorney.

Trust an Experienced Attorney To Be By Your Side

The loss of a loved one is always devastating, and the process of filing a wrongful death suit can be exhausting. To make sure you’re taken care of, you need a wrongful death lawyer in Colorado by your side. Colorado Attorney James Shaw has years of experience helping families get the justice they deserve in wrongful death cases. Call today at 1-800-555-0101 for a free consultation.


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