A wrongful death attorney in Tuscaloosa County, AL cannot bring a loved one back, but they can help move forward with the financial compensation the surviving family members deserve. In Alabama, a wrongful death claim can be brought in civil court. In the state, it is considered a wrongful death whenever a wrongful act, omission or negligence of another causes the death. An estate of a deceased individual can bring a wrongful death case against the negligent party just like the individual would have if they had not perished. Proving a wrongful death case can be very difficult, and only an experienced attorney should be contacted to file a claim.
There does not have to be a criminal conviction against another individual in order to file. An example would be a drunk driver causing the death of another individual due to their negligence. The estate will receive the money of the individual that has passed away. A wrongful death is completely different than a civil case because civil cases are brought through the civil court system and a criminal offense is prosecuted through the state and an attorney that works for them. Civil cases award money and criminal cases are punished with prison or other penalties. The two are very different.
In Alabama, the executor of the estate is the individual who must make a claim in civil court for a wrongful death case. Even when other family members are very close to the deceased individual, only the executor for the estate is permitted to file on behalf of the state. A wrongful death attorney in Tuscaloosa County, AL will vigorously fight for the estate. Alabama does not offer awards to cover costs of funeral expenses, medical bills and similar expenses. They will cover punitive damages based off the wrongdoing of the negligent party.
These punitive damages can be substantial depending on the circumstances of the case. For a spouse or child that relied upon the individual’s income, an aggressive attorney would fight for every penny for them. Those family members have been victimized enough through the death of their loved one. There is a two-year time limit to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Gene T. Moore is a highly experienced wrongful death attorney and will fight every step of the way to get the estate the money they deserve.