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Has someone you love been a victim of wrongful death? We can help. 

Call us at 216.621.2300

When you lose a loved one due to an accident or oversight caused by the careless actions of another, you want answers. The Cleveland, Ohio, wrongful death attorneys at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy can help you find out why the accident happened and help your family gain closure.

The challenge of facing life without your loved one, combined with funeral costs, loss of wages and support, and medical bills, can be too much to handle alone.

While no amount of compensation could ever make up for your loss, it’s our goal to help alleviate some of the financial burdens related to your loved one’s death, so that you can grieve your loss with your family.

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What Our Clients Say

  • “Thanks to you and all your wonderful people in the office. Be assured you will be highly recommended by my family. We appreciate all you did for us.”

    Former Client

  • “They were patient with my questions and explained the legal process when I was in unfamiliar territory. Their empathy and understanding equaled their legal expertise. I cannot imagine a finer team.”

    Former Client

How Our Ohio Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help

A wrongful death claim can help provide your family with the financial support needed to cover expenses associated with your loved one’s death.

It may be difficult to receive compensation without an experienced Cleveland wrongful death lawyer who can help prove the party responsible for your loved one’s accident.

Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy has been assisting families like yours in overcoming personal tragedies for more than 90 years.

It’s our passion to help take care of your family’s needs during this difficult time. You’re not alone—call us today at (216) 621-2300 or complete a free initial consultation form.

Types of Damages in Wrongful Death Cases

In Ohio, depending on the details surrounding your family member’s death, you may be able to recover damages for:

  • funeral preparations
  • future lost wages
  • loss of benefits
  • loss of support
  • lost inheritance
  • your loved one’s medical bills
  • and mental anguish suffered by surviving family members

An Ohio wrongful death attorney from Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy will use every resource possible to recover the full amount of compensation you need. We can help you find out why your loved one’s accident happened and hold those who caused the accident responsible.

Who Can File a Claim?

Although many family members may be considered beneficiaries—or recipients—of wrongful death damages, only one family representative, who has been appointed by the Probate Court, can file the claim.

You can apply to the probate court to be the representative (also known as the Administrator or Executor), and then file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one, if you are the deceased’s surviving:

  • spouse
  • child
  • heir or heiress
  • chosen beneficiary
  • or dependent parent

One of your duties as a representative of the estate is to hire a law firm to represent the estate. If you’re unsure if you’re eligible to file for wrongful death damages, a Cleveland wrongful death lawyer from our firm can answer your questions and explain your family’s options.

Other Ways Our Wrongful Death Attorneys Can Help

When you’ve lost a loved one due to wrongful death, you need time to grieve, and dealing with details such as collecting life insurance and disbursing your family member’s estate can be overwhelming.

Here are a few ways we can help you that go beyond representing you in a wrongful death claim:

Opening an Estate

Before you can pursue a wrongful death claim, you must first have the probate court in the county where the decedent lived appoint a representative to make all the critical decisions affecting the estate.

Those decisions include how to disperse your loved one’s belongings, property, and wealth, as well as hiring a law firm to represent the estate. This process is called “opening an estate.”

If your loved one left a last will and testament with instructions on how his or her estate should be handled, the details should be read and administered as soon as possible. If your family member did not have a formal will, other steps can be taken to distribute and manage the estate.

An Ohio wrongful death lawyer from our firm can answer any questions you have about starting this process. Contact us today—call (216) 621-2300 or complete a free initial consultation form.

Collecting Life Insurance

Life insurance is a benefit paid to designated beneficiaries—or recipients—when the policyholder dies. If your family member passed away as a result of someone’s careless actions, the details involved in collecting his or her life insurance benefits may be more complicated than under other circumstances.

Your Cleveland wrongful death attorney can help explain what you need to do to make sure that you and your family get the maximum amount of benefits to help cover the expenses related to your loved one’s passing. Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy will do everything we can to answer your questions and help get your case started.

We’ll Take Care of Your Family

Our Cleveland wrongful death attorneys are passionate about helping you rebuild your life in the aftermath of your loss. We will investigate the details surrounding your loved one’s death, and our experienced legal team will spare no expense in helping your family get the support you need.

Don’t face your struggles alone—call (216) 621-2300 or complete a free initial consultation form. When you contact us, we will listen to your story and answer any questions you have about your claim and the legal process.

Understanding Ohio Wrongful Death Claims

Wrongful death claims are different than other personal injury cases. If you’re filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one, you’re not only facing outstanding medical bills and treatment costs; you’re also dealing with grief, funeral preparations, and the difficulty of facing life without your family member.

Get the support your family needs. An Ohio wrongful death lawyer from Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy will approach the legal process with compassion and understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Cases

How to file a wrongful death lawsuit?

To file a wrongful death lawsuit, you must be a family member or beneficiary with the legal right to pursue wrongful death damages and have been appointed to serve as the legal representative by the make a claim.

A person can apply to the probate court to be the representative (also known as the Administrator or Executor) and then file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased if he or she is the deceased’s surviving:

– spouse
– child
– heir or heiress
– chosen beneficiary
– or dependent parent

You must also be able to prove that a person’s negligent actions or wrongdoing lead to your loved one’s death.

To file a claim, contact an Ohio wrongful death lawyer at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy today at (216) 621-2300 or complete a free initial consultation form.

How does wrongful death compensation work?

The amount of damages—or compensation—you can recover for a wrongful death claim depends on the factors surrounding the case, the parties involved, and the needs of the surviving family members.

In Ohio, depending on the details surrounding your loved one’s wrongful death, you may be able to recover damages for:

– funeral preparations
– future lost wages
– loss of benefits
– loss of support
– lost inheritance
– your loved one’s medical bills
– and mental anguish suffered by surviving family members

The Cleveland wrongful death attorneys at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy will use every resource possible to recover the full amount of compensation you need. We are passionate about working hard to help secure your family’s future.

What does it mean to open an estate?

Before you can pursue a wrongful death claim, you must first appoint a representative to handle your loved one’s legal affairs. A representative is responsible for dispersing your loved one’s belongings, property, and wealth.

This process is called “opening an estate,” and includes administering your loved one’s will (if provided), distributing his or her assets, assigning custody of any surviving dependents, and more.

Do I need a lawyer to open an estate?

Whether or not you need a lawyer to open an estate varies from case to case. If your loved one died without leaving a will or final testament and only had a small number of assets and heirs, an estate can usually be opened and settled without an attorney. If your loved one passed away with a large number of assets and a written will, a lawyer can help you through the process.

If your loved one passed away as the result of someone else’s negligence, there is the possibility you may need to file a wrongful death claim. You will want to consult with an Ohio wrongful death lawyer to open an estate.

Who is responsible for wrongful death cases?

To receive compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one, you must first be able to prove that his or her death was caused by a person or company’s negligence—or failure to use reasonable care.

Proving negligence requires extensive preparation, investigation, and knowledge of the law. The Ohio wrongful death attorneys at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy can help. We will analyze the details surrounding your loved one’s accident and gather data to help prove who was at fault.

How do you prove negligence in wrongful death cases?

Several elements must be present in a wrongful death claim to legally prove that a person or company was negligent. We must prove that the defendant or at-fault party:

Had a Duty of Care to Your Loved One
Based on the circumstances, the defendant had a duty to provide a level of safety and care to your loved one.
Breached That Duty
According to the evidence and details surrounding the case, the defendant failed to fulfill his or her established duty of care.
Showed Causation
An accident occurred as a result of the defendant’s breach of duty.
Damages Resulted
Your loved one died as a result of the accident caused by the defendant.

Call an Ohio wrongful death lawyer from Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy at (216) 621-2300 or complete a free initial consultation form today.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death

When a person’s negligence causes a devastating accident that leads to your loved one’s death, he or she can be held responsible. Some common circumstances that can result in wrongful death include:

  • Auto Accidents
    If speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence was a factor in your loved one’s accident, this could be considered wrongful death.
  • Aviation Accidents
    If failure to follow proper safety procedures and precautions contributed to an aviation accident that caused your loved one’s death, you may be able to pursue damages.
  • Birth Injury
    When an infant or mother suffers a birth injury that leads to death, the at-fault medical staff can be held accountable for their mistakes.
  • Medical Malpractice
    Doctors and medical staff must provide patients with a safe standard of care. If your loved one died as a result of a medical professional’s negligence, a wrongful death claim can be made.
  • Truck Accidents
    Sometimes fatal trucking accidents occur due to a trucking company’s failure to maintain proper driving hours, load weight limits, or other crucial regulations. If this is the case, your family may be entitled to wrongful death compensation.

Support Groups After Wrongful Death

Grieving the loss of a loved one is never something you should have to go through alone. If you’re dealing with the death of a family member, you may benefit from participating in a grief support group.

If you don’t know where to start, the Cleveland, Ohio wrongful death attorneys from Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy hope you find some support :

Don’t hesitate to reach out. There are people around you willing to offer care and support in this time of need—many of whom have suffered similar losses.

Our Wrongful Death Attorneys Here to Help

The Ohio wrongful death lawyers at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy are here to help if you have any questions regarding the wrongful death of your loved one. Call us at (216) 621-2300 or complete a free initial consultation form. When you contact us, a member of our legal team will listen to your story and get you the answers you need.