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The unexpected loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a family can face. When that loss was caused by another person’s negligence or a company’s wrongful conduct, the grief is often accompanied by unanswered questions, financial uncertainty, and a desire to understand what happened.
While no legal action can undo such a devastating loss, a wrongful death claim can help families pursue accountability and obtain the financial resources they need to move forward. These cases often involve complex investigations, significant damages, and defendants determined to avoid responsibility, making experienced legal representation essential.
If you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, contact national wrongful death lawyers Langdon & Emison today. Call 866-931-2115 for a free consultation to discuss your family’s legal options.
Wrongful death cases are among the most significant legal matters a family will ever face. They often involve complex investigations, catastrophic losses, and powerful defendants determined to avoid responsibility. Successfully pursuing these claims requires experience, resources, and a legal team prepared to take difficult cases to trial when necessary.
For more than 40 years, Langdon & Emison has represented families in complex wrongful death litigation nationwide. Our attorneys have recovered more than $750 million in verdicts and settlements while handling high-stakes cases involving trucking collisions, defective products, medical negligence, workplace incidents, and other catastrophic events.
Families choose Langdon & Emison because we offer:
We understand that no amount of compensation can replace a loved one. Our goal is to help families uncover what happened, hold negligent parties accountable, and pursue justice on behalf of those who can no longer speak for themselves.
A wrongful death claim is a civil legal action that may be brought when a person’s death is caused by another party’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful conduct. These claims allow certain surviving family members or a representative of the deceased’s estate to seek compensation for the losses resulting from that death.
Not every unexpected death gives rise to a wrongful death claim. To pursue a case successfully, it is generally necessary to establish that another person, business, healthcare provider, or other entity failed to act with reasonable care and that this failure directly caused the fatal injury.
Wrongful death claims may arise from many different circumstances, including:
It is also important to understand that a wrongful death claim is separate from any criminal case. Even if criminal charges are never filed—or if a defendant is acquitted—a family may still have the right to pursue compensation through the civil court system.
Wrongful death claims can arise from many different types of preventable incidents. While the circumstances vary, these cases often involve catastrophic events that could have been avoided if reasonable care had been exercised.
Collisions involving commercial trucks often result in fatal injuries because of the immense size and weight of these vehicles. Wrongful death claims may involve negligent truck drivers, trucking companies, maintenance providers, or other parties responsible for the operation of the vehicle.
Manufacturers have a responsibility to design and produce reasonably safe products. When defective vehicles, machinery, consumer products, or industrial equipment cause fatal injuries, surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a product liability wrongful death claim.
Preventable medical errors can have tragic consequences. Wrongful death claims may arise when healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in fatal injuries or complications that could have been avoided.
Construction sites, factories, warehouses, agricultural operations, and other industrial workplaces present significant hazards. When employers, contractors, manufacturers, or other parties fail to maintain safe working conditions, fatal incidents can occur.
Wrongful death claims may also arise from serious motor vehicle collisions, dangerous property conditions, negligent security, recreational accidents, and other situations where another party’s negligence results in the loss of a loved one.
The right to file a wrongful death claim depends on the laws of the state where the case is brought. Because Langdon & Emison represents clients nationwide, the specific rules may vary based on the applicable state law.
In many states, individuals who may be eligible to bring a wrongful death claim include:
Determining who has the legal authority to file a claim can be more complicated than many families expect, particularly when multiple family members are involved or when an estate has not yet been established.
If you have questions about whether you may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim, speaking with an experienced attorney can help clarify your legal rights and explain the options available to your family.
Every wrongful death case begins with one essential question: What happened, and who is responsible? Answering that question often requires a thorough investigation into the events leading up to a person’s death, the evidence available, and the individuals or companies whose actions contributed to the loss.
Depending on the circumstances, our investigation may include:
Because many wrongful death cases arise from trucking accidents, defective products, medical negligence, or other complex incidents, our investigations are tailored to the unique facts of each case. We work closely with experts across multiple disciplines to understand exactly what occurred and build a case supported by strong evidence.
At Langdon & Emison, we prepare every wrongful death claim with the expectation that it may proceed to trial. That level of preparation often places our clients in the strongest possible position throughout the litigation process.
While no amount of money can replace a loved one, a wrongful death claim can help ease the financial burdens families often face after a preventable loss and provide accountability for those responsible.
Depending on the applicable state law and the facts of the case, compensation may include:
Every wrongful death case is unique. The amount of compensation available depends on factors such as the deceased’s age, earning capacity, relationship to surviving family members, and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Wrongful death claims often involve far more than determining how a fatal incident occurred. Families may be faced with multiple defendants, conflicting accounts of what happened, extensive damages, and legal issues that vary from one state to another.
Some of the factors that can make these cases especially complex include:
Because of these challenges, wrongful death cases require careful investigation, strategic planning, and thorough preparation. At Langdon & Emison, we have the resources and experience to manage complex litigation while helping families navigate an incredibly difficult time with compassion and professionalism.
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligence is a tragedy no family should have to endure alone. While a legal claim cannot undo your loss, it can provide answers, hold the responsible parties accountable, and help secure your family’s future.
If you believe your loved one’s death was caused by negligence, contact Langdon & Emison today. Call 866-931-2115 for a free consultation or complete our online contact form to discuss your family’s legal options. The sooner you contact our team, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence, evaluating your claim, and helping your family understand the legal options available.
A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the losses suffered by surviving family members after a loved one’s death. A survival action, where recognized by state law, allows certain claims the deceased could have brought if they had survived to continue through their estate.
No. A wrongful death claim is a civil action that is separate from any criminal prosecution. A family may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim even if no criminal charges are filed or the defendant is found not guilty in a criminal case.
Fault is established through evidence such as accident reports, medical records, witness testimony, expert analysis, photographs, electronic data, and other documentation showing that another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct caused the death.
The effect of shared fault depends on the laws of the state where the claim is filed. In some states, surviving family members may still be able to recover compensation even if the deceased was partially responsible for the incident.
Yes. Every state has statutes of limitations that establish deadlines for filing wrongful death lawsuits. Because these deadlines vary and exceptions may apply, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Many wrongful death claims are resolved through settlement negotiations, but some proceed to trial when liability or damages are disputed. Thorough trial preparation can strengthen a family’s position throughout the litigation process.
Langdon & Emison handles wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you generally do not pay attorney’s fees unless the firm recovers compensation on your family’s behalf.
Yes. Many wrongful death cases involve multiple liable parties, particularly those arising from trucking accidents, defective products, or workplace incidents. Identifying every responsible party is often an important part of maximizing a family’s recovery.
If available, it can be helpful to bring accident reports, medical records, photographs, insurance information, correspondence related to the incident, and any other documents that may help explain what occurred. If you do not have these materials, an attorney can often help obtain them.
It is generally best to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a fatal incident. Early legal involvement can help preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, and ensure important legal deadlines are not missed.
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