Franklin, IN, Wrongful Death Lawyer
$5 Million Settlement
We recently won a $5 million settlement for a wrongful death & injury case to survivor due to car crash.
Losing a loved one is never easy, especially when their death could have been prevented. At Stephenson Rife LLP, we recognize the immense emotional and financial burden that follows such a loss. Our Franklin, IN, wrongful death lawyers are here to support you through this difficult time and advocate for you.
Our firm understands that each wrongful death case is unique, and we approach every client with empathy, respect, and unwavering dedication. With years of experience serving families in Franklin, we have earned a reputation for our commitment to achieving justice and securing meaningful compensation for our clients.
Whether your loved one’s death resulted from a car accident, medical malpractice, workplace incident, or another tragic circumstance, we are prepared to investigate thoroughly, navigate complex legal processes, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact us at (317) 953-4324 to schedule a free consultation. Let us help you through the legal complexities to pursue a wrongful death claim that honors the memory of your loved one.
What Is a “Wrongful Death”?
A “wrongful death” happens when an individual dies as a result of the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another person or entity. This legal claim allows the surviving family members or beneficiaries to seek compensation for their loss.
Key aspects of Franklin, IN ,wrongful death claims typically include:
Damages: The death resulted in quantifiable damages, such as medical expenses, loss of income, funeral costs, and emotional suffering experienced by the surviving family members.
Wrongful Act: The death must have resulted from another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. This could involve various circumstances, such as car accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, defective products, or criminal acts.
Negligence: Negligence refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care that a prudent person would have exercised under similar circumstances. For instance, a driver who causes a fatal accident due to reckless driving could be found negligent.
Liability: The party or parties responsible for the wrongful death must be legally liable. This means they can be held accountable in civil court for their actions or failures to act that led to the death.
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Death of a Child
In Indiana, the accidental death of a child falls under I.C. 34-23-2-1. While it’s often assumed a child is someone under 18 years old, Indiana law defines a child under its wrongful death statute as an unmarried individual without dependents who is under 20 years old or under 23 if enrolled in higher education or vocational training.
Under Indiana’s Wrongful Death Act, parents can seek economic damages covering the loss of the child’s contributions, medical and funeral expenses, and counseling costs for surviving parents or minor siblings. Non-economic damages may include compensation for the lost love and companionship the child would have provided to their parents until the last surviving parent’s death.
Why Choose Stephenson Rife?
Choosing the right attorney for your Franklin, IN, wrongful death case is crucial. Here’s why Stephenson Rife is the best choice for you:
Experience
Our team has years of experience handling wrongful death cases in Franklin, IN. We know the local laws inside and out, and we’ve helped many families like yours get the justice they deserve.
Personalized Attention
Every case is unique, and we treat it as such. We take the time to understand your situation, concerns, and goals. You’re not just another case number to us—you’re a person who deserves dedicated legal representation tailored to your needs.
Proven Results
We have a strong track record of winning significant client settlements and verdicts. We fight to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your loss.
Ready to Fight for You
Whether negotiating a settlement or arguing your case in court, we’re prepared to go the distance to get you the best possible outcome. Your peace of mind and justice for your loved one are our priorities.
Support Every Step of the Way
From the initial consultation to the final resolution, we’ll guide you through the legal process. We’re here to answer your questions and provide clarity at every turn.
How We Can Help With Your Wrongful Death Case
At Stephenson Rife, our dedicated team of wrongful death lawyers in Franklin, IN, is here to provide comprehensive legal support during this difficult time. Here’s how we can help with your wrongful death case:
- Meticulous Investigation: We investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death. This includes interviewing witnesses, reviewing medical records, gathering evidence, and consulting with experts to establish liability and build a case.
- Identifying Liable Parties: Determining who is responsible for your loved one’s wrongful death is crucial. Whether it involves a negligent driver, a medical professional, a product manufacturer, or another party, we will identify all potentially liable parties.
- Strategic Negotiation: Our goal is to secure fair and just compensation for your family. We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and responsible parties to achieve a settlement that reflects the full extent of your damages, including financial losses, emotional suffering, and more.
- Litigation Experience: If necessary, we are prepared to take your case to trial. Our litigators have a high success rate in the courtroom and will advocate on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome.
What Compensation Is Available in a Wrongful Death Case?
Compensation or damages can vary depending on the circumstances of a wrongful death case. Here are the typical types of compensation that may be available:
Medical Expenses
Compensation for any medical bills incurred as a result of the injury or illness that led to the deceased’s death. This includes hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and other related medical costs.
Funeral and Burial Costs
Families can recover the costs associated with funeral and burial services, including the expenses for a casket, headstone, burial plot, cremation, and memorial services.
Pain and Suffering
This includes compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering experienced by the deceased before their death, as well as the emotional pain and suffering endured by the surviving family members.
Lost Wages and Benefits
The income the deceased would have earned if they had lived is recoverable. This includes wages, salary, bonuses, and other employment benefits. Additionally, compensation may cover the loss of future earnings and benefits the deceased would have provided to their family.
Loss of Companionship and Consortium
Surviving family members, such as spouses or children, can be compensated for losing the deceased’s companionship, care, guidance, and emotional support. This also covers the loss of consortium, referring to the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship.
The estate’s personal representative can pursue a survival action along with the wrongful death claim if the deceased lived for a period after the incident. Through a survival action, the estate may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages incurred by the deceased.
Indiana law imposes caps on wrongful death damages in specific cases. The capped amount depends on factors such as the age of the deceased, the surviving family members, and the circumstances leading to the wrongful death.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Your Indianapolis Wrongful Death Case?
A statute of limitations sets the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings can be initiated. For wrongful death cases in Indiana, this time limit begins from the date of the deceased person’s death.
In Indiana, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of the deceased person’s death. It is important to note that this time limit is strict, and failing to file within this period may result in the inability to pursue legal action.
Contact Our Franklin, IN, Wrongful Death Attorney
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence, recklessness, or wrongful actions of another, it is important to take action as soon as possible.
Contact Stephenson Rife at (317) 953-4324 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Franklin, IN, wrongful death lawyers. We will review your case, explain your legal options, and guide you through the legal process.
M. Michael Stephenson
Founding Partner
Attorney Mike Stephenson has 40 years of experience and is a trusted advisor to many individuals and companies. His current practice is dominated by civil litigation in state and federal courts. He focuses much of his time on handling catastrophic injuries caused by all types of accidents, including car wrecks, semi, industrial, product liability, and fire, just to name a few. He also works extensively in construction-related matters.
Brady J. Rife
Founding Partner
Brady Rife has developed a diverse civil litigation practice for plaintiffs throughout Indiana. Brady is heavily involved in serious personal injury matters, complex business and commercial disputes, and insurance litigation in state and federal courts. Brady has successfully tried several jury trials and bench trials as lead counsel and has also briefed multiple cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals.
DEDICATED
Our clients are like family and we care about their well-being.
PREPARED
Our exceptional team is outstanding and is always prepared for every case.
DRIVEN
Our top-notch attorneys are tough and focused on getting justice for our clients.