If you’ve suffered the loss of someone you love in an accident in Westminster, Colorado, our Westminster wrongful death lawyers first want to extend our deepest condolences. We know how devastating it is to lose someone close to you – especially under avoidable circumstances.
The law firm of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. is committed to representing clients in wrongful death claims, where you have a chance to tell your loved one’s story, hold a wrongdoer accountable and fight for justice. We are here to help you move forward, both economically and emotionally.
Wrongful death is defined differently from state to state, although most definitions are similar. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 13-21-202 states that if someone dies from an injury resulting from the negligence, wrongful act or default of another person, and this act or default would have entitled the injured victim to file a personal injury action had death not ensued, an action for damages can be brought.
Negligence refers to the failure to use an appropriate or reasonable amount of care, resulting in an injury or death to another person. A wrongful act means reckless, wanton or criminal behavior. Default is the legal term for an omission, such as something that a reasonable and prudent party would have done in the same or similar circumstances that was not performed by the defendant.
A wrongful death claim can arise out of many different accidents and incidents in Westminster, including fatal car accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, and workplace disasters. At Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C., our team of experienced personal injury attorneys in Westminster offers a wide range of legal services for families during wrongful death lawsuits, including:
Your Westminster wrongful death lawyer will be by your side through every step of the legal process, from the initial fatal accident investigation to the final settlement meeting or hearing. We’ll make sure your family has everything it needs to get through this difficult time while you focus on more important things, like spending time with your loved ones and healing.
In the first year after the decedent’s death, the surviving spouse of the deceased can file a wrongful death claim under Colorado law. If the spouse allows it via written election, the heir or heirs of the deceased may also join the action or file their own action in the first year. In the second year, the heirs may file a claim or join an action with a surviving spouse without the spouse’s written election. If there is no spouse or heir, a designated beneficiary or the decedent’s parents may file instead.
A successful claim can pay surviving beneficiaries for lost wages of the deceased, lost benefits (such as insurance), funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more. It’s important to discuss the value of your case with an attorney before accepting a settlement from an insurance company, as an insurer may significantly undervalue a claim involving a fatality.
If someone in your family recently lost his or her life in a fatal accident in Westminster, Colorado or the surrounding areas, we can help you move forward with a wrongful death lawsuit. This type of claim can be the first step toward justice and closure for your loved one. Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. is a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable attorneys ready to give your deceased loved one a voice in the justice system. Contact us today online to request a free case review with one of our Westminster wrongful death lawyers.
