If your loved one died because of someone else’s fault, you don’t just need an Iowa car accident lawyer or a medical malpractice lawyer. You need a wrongful death lawyer with experience in car accident claims or malpractice claims but who also has experience in Iowa wrongful death claims. Wrongful death claims in Iowa are very different than regular personal injury claims. Make sure you are hiring a lawyer with real experience navigating those important differences.
How Wrongful Deaths Can Occur
Wrongful deaths can occur a variety of ways:
- A distracted driver can cause a fatal car crash.
- A medical professional can delay life-saving treatment until it is too late.
- A nursing home’s failure to appropriately monitor a resident can lead to a deadly fall.
Differences Between Iowa Personal Injury Claims and Wrongful Death Claims
An experienced wrongful death attorney understands what you must prove in order to have a successful wrongful death case in Iowa. It is not enough to prove that someone acted carelessly or recklessly towards your loved one. In a wrongful death case, your attorney must be able to prove a causal link between the other person’s wrongful behavior and your loved one’s death. This typically involves expert medical testimony. An experienced wrongful death lawyer will find the right experts to get this testimony for you.
Another key difference between wrongful death claims and regular personal injury claims in Iowa is the compensation that a family can get after losing a loved one. This compensation can include:
- Loss of likely future earnings of the deceased
- Loss of companionship and guidance
- Loss of household services
- Death-related medical expenses
Many of these claims for compensation require calculation by an economic expert. An experienced wrongful death lawyer will find the right economic experts for your case and provide the information those experts need to make calculations that will hold up in an Iowa court.
If you’ve lost someone you love due to someone else’s fault, call RSH Legal at 1-319-774-1542. One of our experienced Iowa wrongful death attorneys can explain your legal options.
