A loved one’s death will flip your entire world upside down. If the death of your loved one is caused by the negligence or intentional action of someone, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death claim is very helpful for the family of the deceased for recovering their financial and emotional loss.
Here are the important documents you need to submit when you file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Death Certificate
The death certificate is the most important document that is needed for the wrongful death claim. The death certificate will contain the exact cause of death of your loved one as verified by the coroner. If the death of your loved one is caused by a car accident or premises liability accident like slip and fall, the police will call for an investigation. The police report of the accident can also be submitted with your wrongful death claim.
Evidence Of Relationship Between Victim And Negligent Party
If the wrongful death is caused by the negligence of someone, you need to prove that the negligent party owed the victim a duty of care. If it is a case of medical negligence, a doctor owes his or her patients a duty of care to do everything in his power to keep the patients from unnecessary harm. For securing wrongful death documents in the case of a slip and fall accident, you have to determine which party is liable for the premises’ safety or who is responsible for the defective item that caused your loved one’s death.
Autopsy Report
Wrongful deaths can also be caused by medical negligence. In such cases, a detailed autopsy is required to find out the exact cause of death. The autopsy report will note any discrepancies, errors, or wrongdoings that may have lead to the death of your loved one. You should demand a full autopsy if you believe that the death of your loved one is caused by medical negligence.
Medical Records
If your loved one’s death was during his/her treatment and you believe that it was caused by some sort of medical malpractice, you should secure all the copies of his/her complete medical records. When you file a wrongful death claim, make sure to submit those medical records also.
Tax Records
The value of the wrongful death claim is calculated based on the financial and emotional impact the loss of your loved one will have on you and your family. With the right tax records and family records, wrongful death lawyers can estimate a fair value of your wrongful death claim.