Fatal Accidents and Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Attorney Serving Fairfield and New Haven Counties

The loss of a loved one can be a traumatic experience. That loss is made even worse when it was caused by someone else’s negligence.

If you lost a loved one and you believe someone else was at fault, your family may be entitled to compensation. The Lebedevitch Law Firm, PLLC, can help you navigate the grief of losing a loved one while protecting your family’s financial well-being.

We know that no amount of money will replace the loss of your loved one. But, financial compensation can protect your family’s future by replacing lost income and inheritance and covering the cost of grief counseling. It can also give your family a sense of closure, knowing justice has been done.

Stephen Lebedevitch is an experienced Connecticut wrongful death attorney who can help your family navigate the tragic loss of a loved one. We can work to relieve the financial stress so you can focus on processing your grief. We will work closely with your family to fully understand the loss you suffered so we can maximize your family’s compensation.

What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Wrongful death occurs when a person is killed because someone else was negligent. Under Connecticut law, the deceased person’s family members can file a lawsuit on behalf of their loved one seeking compensation for their loss. A Connecticut wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the surviving spouse or life partner, children, parents, siblings, or dependents of the person who died.

What Are the Most Common Types of Wrongful Death Claims?

Claims for wrongful death can arise in connection with any type of personal injury claim, including automobile accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and due to defective products.

Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death?

Under Connecticut’s wrongful death statute, only the personal representative of the estate (i.e., the person named as the estate executor or administrator) can initiate a wrongful death lawsuit. However, if the lawsuit is successful, any money recovered may be distributed to multiple parties.

• The decedent’s estate is entitled to recover “the cost of reasonably necessary medical, hospital, and nursing services, and including funeral expenses,” as well as personal injury damages the deceased person would have been entitled to receive, such as compensation for pain and suffering.
• The spouse or civil partner of the deceased person is entitled to compensation for loss of consortium, which is the “loss of the society of, affection of, moral support provided by, services provided by, sexual relations with, or companionship of the other spouse, suffered because of the death of the other spouse.”
• Surviving children can seek compensation for the loss of a parent’s love, affection, care, and guidance; however, their right to recovery only extends to children who were minors (under the age of 18) at the time of the parent’s death.
• Once wrongful death damages have been distributed to the decedent’s estate, the surviving spouse, and the decedent’s children, additional compensation may be distributed to other individuals named in the deceased person’s will or, if there is no will, in accordance with Connecticut’s law of intestate succession.

What Compensation Is Available in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

The damages your family is entitled to receive in a Connecticut wrongful death lawsuit will depend on who survives the decedent and the specific losses you and your family suffered.

In general terms, your family may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses incurred prior to death
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Compensation for the pain and suffering your loved one would have experienced had they survived
• Lost income
• Loss of companionship and support

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

In Connecticut, the family of the person who died has two years to file a claim for wrongful death. However, claims for wrongful death are often accompanied by other claims, and these claims might have a different time limit. To be safe, we recommend contacting an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney at The Lebedevitch Law Firm Today

If you lost a loved one because someone else was negligent, your family may be entitled to compensation. We know that taking the next step after losing a loved one can be difficult. The Lebedevitch Law Firm can help. Attorney Lebedevitch has extensive experience handling Connecticut wrongful death claims and will help your family recover the compensation you deserve.