When a loved one is lost due to someone else’s negligence, no amount of justice or compensation can make up for the wrongdoing. In these times of grief, we understand that legal proceedings might be the last thing on your mind.
However, the unexpected loss of a family member can bring on significant financial strain. Between the loss of income, the medical and funeral costs, and the shock to your quality of life, you shouldn’t have to worry about financial troubles during this difficult time.
Wrongful death lawsuits are a way to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Additionally, they can help ease the financial burdens as you recover and adjust to your circumstances.
While nothing can reverse time and bring back your loved one, the law allows survivors to give a voice to their deceased, as well as seek financial compensation for their losses.
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader is the trusted name for wrongful death lawyers in Kansas City. Our attorneys deliver the answers, accountability, and justice that families deserve. We aren’t just here to fight for the best legal outcomes—we are here to help you find closure and peace.
In this blog, we will discuss the challenges, legal processes, and outcomes you can expect from a wrongful death lawsuit in Kansas City.
Understanding Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Wrongful death lawsuits are incredibly complex cases that require the expertise of a skilled lawyer to navigate. To file a wrongful death claim, you must have evidence that negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing caused the victim’s death.
Who Can File Wrongful Death Lawsuits
When someone’s life is cut short due to the negligence of another party, surviving relatives can take legal action to recover damages for their loss.
Each state has specific laws about who can bring forth a wrongful death lawsuit. Individuals that have this right are usually the immediate surviving family members, including the spouse, parents, or children of the deceased.
In some cases, distant relatives may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Kansas City if immediate family members are unavailable or unwilling. However, it’s necessary to consult with a wrongful death attorney in Kansas City before pursuing legal action. Experienced wrongful death attorneys will determine if you are eligible to bring forward a case and help you navigate the legal process.
Why You Should Pursue a Wrongful Death Case
The choice to pursue a lawsuit is a deeply personal and individualized decision—it’s not the right path for everyone. Depending on your unique circumstances, you may consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit for:
1. Accountability and Justice
A wrongful death lawsuit ensures that the responsible party is held accountable for their actions. These lawsuits can give a voice to the deceased and allow families to get justice on their behalf.
2. Financial Relief
The unexpected loss of a family member can bring on significant financial challenges. A wrongful death lawsuit can provide financial security as you and your family adjust. Financial relief may be necessary to cover medical and funeral expenses as well as to make up for the deceased’s loss of income.
3. Deterring Future Accidents
When individuals or entities are held liable for their actions, they usually make changes to safety protocols that will prevent similar accidents in the future. A wrongful death lawsuit can help ensure that nobody else falls victim to the same negligence or wrongdoing.
4. Closure and Healing
Seeking justice for a loved one can be an important step in the healing process. While we know that nothing can heal the wound completely, closure can often help families move forward.
What You Can Recover From a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Kansas City
The law allows plaintiffs to recover damages that are both economic and non-economic. This can include:
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of future income and inheritance
- Cost of household duties you can no longer perform
- Loss of love and companionship
- Cost of pain, suffering, and mental distress
Causes of Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Wrongful death cases are often highly complex and the result of numerous factors. There is rarely ever a straightforward case. The most common causes of wrongful death lawsuits result from:
Car Accidents
Sadly, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental injury in the United States. Between the number of cars on the road and increased distractions for drivers, the occurrence of fatal car crashes is on the rise.
Responsible Parties
If you lost a loved one in a car accident in Kansas or Missouri, there may be several parties to hold liable, including:
- The driver of another vehicle (particularly if they were reckless, distracted, or under the influence)
- Government entities (if inadequate signage or poorly maintained roads contributed to the accident)
- The vehicle manufacturer (if a defect in the vehicle contributed to the accident)
- Mechanics (if inadequate or faulty repairs contributed to the accident)
If someone you know was involved in a catastrophic motor vehicle crash, contact our car accident lawyers in Kansas City.
Medical Malpractice
Unfortunately, medical errors are more common than you might think. According to a 2016 study by John Hopkins Medicine, medical errors cause more than 250,000 deaths annually, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Responsible Parties
Cases of medical malpractice require a team of experts to determine who should be held liable. These cases are often due to the negligence of several individuals or entities, including:
- Doctors, nurses, surgeons, obstetricians, anesthesiologists, or other medical providers/staff (if found to be negligent in their practice)
- Hospitals and medical facilities (if their policies or protocols contributed to the loss of life)
- Pharmaceutical companies (if there were defects in the medication itself or insufficient warnings)
- Supervisors (if they failed to provide adequate training or oversight)
Our medical malpractice lawyers in Kansas City handle a variety of highly complex medical cases every year. If you are seeking justice for a loved one, the team of attorneys at BFRR have the expertise to handle your case.
Product or Property Liability
Manufacturers and property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their products and properties are safe. When a death is caused by a defective product or hazardous property, several people could be held responsible.
Responsible Parties for Product Liability Lawsuits:
- Manufacturers (if the manufacturing was flawed and led to the cause of death)
- Retailer (if they failed to remove a dangerous product from their inventory)
- Designer (if the product’s design contributed to the loss of life)
- Parts supplier (if a component was defective)
Responsible Parties for Property Liability Lawsuits:
- The property owner (if they failed to ensure the safety of the premise)
- The tenant (if they failed to complete proper maintenance for safe conditions)
- Contractors (if they introduced hazards or improperly addressed them)
- Government entities (if it’s public property and maintenance/safety was neglected)
- Construction companies (if they didn’t secure the site, which led to the accident)
Why Legal Representation Is Necessary
Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t provide fair compensation without being compelled to do so. This is particularly true in wrongful death cases because a loss of life is largely measured in non-economic value.
If you lost a family member in a tragic accident, it’s crucial to find a qualified wrongful death lawyer in Kansas City to handle your case. Qualified wrongful death attorneys have years of experience in these highly complex litigations, and they will be the only ones who can obtain fair compensation for you.
Legal representation from a qualified attorney will ensure that insurance companies assign fair value for the loss of life.
How BFRR Law Can Help
At BFRR, we believe that the most important part of any case is the human aspect. When people come to us, regardless of the situation, they are going through extremely difficult times. We are here to be there for families and support them in any way we can.
Our qualified attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to lead you through every part of the legal process. You can trust our team to determine a fair value for your case.
When a family loses a loved one, the effects are felt throughout the whole family and community. We are here to fight not only for the victim, but for the families whose lives are forever changed.
Contact Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader for Information Regarding a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Kansas City
The lawyers at Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader understand that your case is your only case. When we represent a client or a family after a catastrophic event, we devote the time, resources, and expertise for the best possible result.
If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, contact our team today for a consultation at no cost.
The above is not intended to be legal advice. Each individual case is different and must be analyzed on its own set of facts and circumstances. If you believe you may have a case, it is critically important that you timely contact a lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.
