Wrongful Death Attorneys in Raleigh

Serving Families Across North Carolina After Preventable Loss

No amount of money can compensate families for the pain of losing a loved one, but Edwards Kirby is committed to helping surviving family members hold those at fault fully accountable. Though wrongful death lawsuits can be emotionally turbulent and trying matters, our experienced team of attorneys can help you overcome the legal obstacles that stand in the way of justice.

Even with our successful history litigating wrongful death actions, every new case is humbling and inspiring. We know our clients count on our experience, expertise, and determination to see them through difficult times – and we’re passionate about obtaining the outcomes they deserve.

Why Is Edwards Kirby the Right Choice?

• Over 170 Years of Collective Experience
• Hundreds of Millions Recovered for Clients, Record-Setting Results
• Led By Two Inner Circle of Advocates Members (Top 100 Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Nationally)
• Compassionate Legal Team, Free & Confidential Consultations

For a free review of your claim, call (919) 335-7005 or contact us online.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits in North Carolina

Wrongful death claims are civil legal actions that seek financial responsibility against parties who caused someone’s death by their negligent or wrongful acts. Unlike criminal cases, wrongful death actions do not require Plaintiffs (the party bringing a suit) to prove a Defendant is guilty of a crime. Instead, they concern only whether a defendant was more likely than not (rather than beyond a reasonable doubt) responsible for causing the loved one’s death.

In North Carolina, wrongful death claims consist of a few key elements. Generally, this means proving:

• The defendant was responsible, in part or in whole, for the victim’s death;
• Negligence or liability on the part of the defendant (i.e. breach of duty);
• The victim’s death was a foreseeable result of the defendant’s actions;
• Surviving family members suffered actual damages as a result.

Every wrongful death claim is unique, and each case can entail endless challenges – from multiple liable parties and complex medical concepts (such as in the case of medical malpractice) to disputed liability, vicarious or several liability, and more. Edwards Kirby can help families navigate the legal hurdles to proving fault and liability in wrongful death claims.

Recoverable Damages in Wrongful Death Cases

In legal terminology, financial compensation awarded to victims in successful wrongful death claims is known as damages. When found liable for the preventable death of a victim, defendants are financially responsible for paying victims for their damages. In wrongful death cases, these damages include both the financial losses arising from a family member’s death, as well as the non-economic damages incurred by victims and grieving family members, which are more difficult to translate into monetary sums.

North Carolina’s Wrongful Death Statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-2) outlines damages families can recover for the preventable death of their loved ones. The law combines two traditional parts of a wrongful death case:

• Survival action, which is the claim the victim possessed prior to their passing (i.e. pre-death medical expenses); and
• Wrongful death action, which is brought on behalf of the victim’s family for damages they suffered as a result of their loved one’s death.

In general, wrongful death suits can provide compensation for:

• Medical expenses incurred prior to a victim’s death
• Physical pain and suffering endured by the victim before their passing
• Loss of income prior to death
• Lost income a victim would have earned
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of emotional support, services, care, companionship, and guidance

Our Recent Wrongful Death Cases:

• $9.45M settlement over a deadly tanker truck wreck on I-95.
• $8.6M settlement against an intoxicated driver who drove the wrong way on a highway.
• $6M settlement for the family of a young lifeguard electrocuted as a result of electrical wiring failures and a short in a pool pump motor.
• $2.7M settlement for the family of a father killed in a tractor-trailer wreck on a N.C. Highway.
• $1.2M settlement for the family of a police shooting victim.