Wrongful Death

Nothing is harder in life than losing a loved one. If you have lost a parent, a spouse, or a child because of someone's carelessness, negligence or reckless conduct, then you may have grounds for pursuing money damages for their wrongful death.

Alabama previously enacted two wrongful death statutes that allow for a family member or the representative of the estate to bring a case. Alabama Code 6-5-410 applies to wrongful deaths involving adults, and Alabama Code section 6-5-391 applies to the deaths of minor children. A wrongful death could occur from a fatal car or truck accident caused by a drunk driver or from an accident in the workplace or at a construction site. In essence, a wrongful death has occurred any time the death is the result of misconduct of another. When trying to determine if a viable wrongful death claim exists, you obviously must identify the wrongdoer and be able to prove the wrongful conduct and how it caused or contributed to the death.

In Alabama, you cannot simply bring a wrongful death claim in court in the name of a deceased individual. Alabama law specifically identifies and lists suitable people who have the legal capacity to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the decedent. In terms of minor children, the family is not required to open an estate to bring a wrongful death claim. Any parent having legal custody of the child at the time of death has standing to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of their deceased child. With adults, however, opening an estate through a probate court is typically required, as the case will be legally pursued by a representative of the estate of the decedent. Opening an estate for a deceased person can be a complicated, time consuming process, so getting to an attorney early to help set up an estate is of the utmost importance.

The Attorneys at Hollis Wright are ready to help in your time of need. The Birmingham wrongful death attorneys have years of experience representing families who have lost a loved one due to the wrongful conduct of another. Our attorneys have a complete and comprehensive understanding of the wrongful death laws and statutes in Alabama and know exactly how to investigate and prosecute these claims to maximize a recovery for the family.

Given the magnitude of any situation involving a death, Hollis Wright is committed to investing significant time and money in order to properly and thoroughly investigate these cases. We routinely employ outside experts, such as medical doctors, engineers and accident reconstructionists to assist us in our investigation. Over the years, the Hollis Wright attorneys have represented throughout the entire State of Alabama families who have lost a loved one and desire to pursue a wrongful death claim. Our attorneys routinely represent families in wrongful death cases in:

• Birmingham Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Decatur Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Dothan Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Florence Wrongful Death Attorneys
  
• Gadsden Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Hoover Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Huntsville Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Jasper Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Mobile Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Montgomery Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Opelika Wrongful Death Attorneys
  
• Pell City Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Selma Wrongful Death Attorneys
  
• Talladega Wrongful Death Attorneys
• Tuscaloosa Wrongful Death Attorneys

If we accept your case, we will file your lawsuit and fight tirelessly to win money damages for your family. The attorneys at Hollis Wright Law Firm are aggressive advocates and will leave no stone unturned in representing your family. In Alabama, you are only allowed to pursue punitive damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. Punitive damages are intended to punish and deter the wrongdoer for his or her careless actions when they caused a fatal accident. You and your family will receive any punitive damages awarded.

The attorneys at Hollis Wright have more than 100 years of combined experience in handling and pursuing wrongful death and personal injury cases. To schedule a free initial consultation about your wrongful death claim, contact our law offices in Birmingham, Alabama. A Birmingham wrongful death lawyer will meet with you, answer questions about a potential wrongful death lawsuit and recommend a course of action to achieve the most positive outcome possible.