Wrongful Death

When a loved one is killed suddenly and unexpectedly, it can turn a family’s life upside down.  There are so many questions and so few answers.  Family members need an attorney they trust and who they feel comfortable with to find out how an accident happened and determine who is responsible.  Our firm understands that after losing a loved one, filing a lawsuit or pursuing a claim is generally the last thing on someone’s mind.  However, with loss comes the need for closure, and that closure can generally only be obtained by answering why an accident happened and pursuing all responsible parties.

The North Carolina Wrongful Death statute defines wrongful death as "the death of a person…caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default of another...". The most common causes of wrongful death include automobile accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and products liability.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States for ages 3-34.

Cases involving wrongful death are complex and emotionally difficult, and it is important to have an experienced wrongful death attorney whom you feel comfortable with assisting you throughout the entire process.  North Carolina law allows surviving family members to file a claim for compensation through a personal representative of the estate.  Once the estate is properly set up, a law suit can be initiated against anyone who is responsible for causing the loved one’s death.  We work closely with our clients to determine who is best suited to act as the personal representative to ensure the family is best represented and can get the maximum recovery allowed by law.  If compensation is recovered, it is distributed to the heirs as allowed by North Carolina law.  At the Law Offices of Robert D. Rouse, III, we have the knowledge, skill, and compassion to handle complex wrongful death cases and are experienced in applying the North Carolina Wrongful Death Statute to ensure families get the maximum recovery allowed to them under North Carolina law.

Time is of the essence in a wrongful death case. In North Carolina, the statute of limitations is a quick two years. Acting immediately after a death can be critical to ensuring the family receives the compensation they are legally entitled to.  Family members of a decedent may find themselves facing expensive medical bills for their loved one or costly funeral expenses.  Pursuing a claim can help alleviate financial burdens if the love one you lost was a provider for the family.  Some of the saddest cases we see are when the family breadwinner is negligently killed and a family is left with no financial support.  Those families need immediate help to pursue their claim as efficiently as possible to ensure there is no delay in getting the financial compensation they are entitled to.

If someone in your family has died because of someone else's negligence or carelessness, contact our experience wrongful death lawyer, who will handle your claim with compassion and will deliver the highest level of personal service to your family during this difficult time.