When you’ve lost a loved one, especially if it was due to someone else’s negligence, the healing process can be hard. That’s why our Edmond, OK wrongful death lawyer at Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers works with families of those who were victims of avoidable accidents. We offer free strategy sessions to discuss your case, and we’re available 24/7 to provide dedicated legal assistance to Oklahoma residents. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
What Defines A Wrongful Death
A “wrongful death” is defined as any death that is knowingly or negligently caused by another person. If a worker fall from a roof or scaffolding, a customer suffers a deadly fall at a grocery store, a lack of care from staff members caused a person to ingest food that caused an allergic reaction at a restaurant, or a person committed a criminal act against another person, wrongful death charges may be pursued.
To support your case, our Edmond wrongful death lawyers suggest bringing ample evidence to your meeting, as sufficient evidence is key to proving liability in a wrongful death case. Medical records, witness statements, police reports, autopsy reports, and financial documents like pay stubs can all help with your loved one’s case. We can use these types of evidence to prove negligence or fault. Our accidental death lawyers will review all the details of your case, help you file the necessary paperwork, and represent your loved one in court, if the case calls for it. We will do everything necessary to bring justice to your loved one.
The family of the deceased is often entitled to certain types of compensation after such a loss. Our survivor claims lawyers work to secure compensation for the pain and suffering they’ve experienced after losing their loved one. This can include financial aid to cover their grief, emotional pain, and loss of companionship. We will also aim to retrieve compensation to cover the medical bills that accrued prior to death, as well as funeral and burial expenses. Lost wages will also be taken into account, especially if members of the family were reliant on the deceased’s income.
It’s critical to speak with our family loss lawyers immediately after the accident occurs—the sooner we can get started on your case, the better your results may be.
How We Help Grieving Families
Whether your loved one was a victim of a deadly slip-and-fall accident, workplace injury, or traffic accident, we’re here to offer our support and service to help your family get through this difficult time. Our Edmond wrongful death attorneys will diligently go through your case to make sure we thoroughly understand the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death. We will do everything in our power to right the wrongs that were done to your family and hold the responsible party or parties accountable for their actions. You don’t have to go through this alone. We will stand by your side every step of the way.
If you’re ready to talk to our fatal accident lawyers, contact Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers to get started. We provide compassionate, reliable legal support for our clients during what we know is a terribly difficult time. We’re here to protect the memory of your loved one and secure compensation for your family for your pain and suffering.
Types Of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
Losing someone unexpectedly is painful enough without also having to face legal and financial stress. At Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent families who have lost a loved one due to someone else’s careless or reckless actions. A dedicated Edmond, OK wrongful death lawyer from our team can help you take legal steps during a time when it may feel overwhelming to do so alone. These cases aren’t about putting a price on life, they’re about accountability, closure, and helping surviving family members find a way forward.
- Car Accidents: Many wrongful death claims stem from fatal crashes caused by speeding, distracted driving, or impaired drivers. We help families pursue claims against individuals, companies, or other liable parties involved. No matter how many parties need to be held accountable, we can help.
- Commercial Truck Crashes: Fatal accidents involving large trucks often result from driver fatigue, overloaded trailers, or poor maintenance. These cases may involve multiple parties, including trucking companies and logistics firms.
- Motorcycle Collisions: Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to severe injuries. If a loved one was killed in a crash caused by another driver’s careless behavior, we work to recover damages and hold that driver accountable.
- Workplace Incidents: Some workplace accidents lead to tragic outcomes, especially in construction, manufacturing, or oilfield environments. In certain cases, a third party who is not the employer can be held legally responsible for the death. Our team will investigate your case to determine where fault lies.
- Medical Malpractice: If a healthcare provider fails to follow appropriate procedures and a patient dies as a result, the family may have grounds for a wrongful death claim. These cases can include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or medication mistakes.
- Defective Products: Manufacturers can be held responsible when faulty equipment, vehicles, or household products result in fatal injuries. We investigate whether safety standards were followed and whether prior complaints were ignored.
- Premises Liability: Fatal injuries caused by unsafe property conditions, such as unmarked hazards, falling objects, or negligent security, may lead to a wrongful death case against the property owner or operator.
- Pedestrian And Bicycle Fatalities: Drivers who fail to yield or drive carelessly in crosswalks and bike lanes can cause fatal accidents. We represent families seeking justice for pedestrians and cyclists struck by vehicles.
We have multiple decades of experience working with families in wrongful death cases throughout Oklahoma. Our legal team approaches each case with focus and care, understanding how deeply these losses affect every part of life.
Our firm has won settlements as large as $900,000 for car accident cases. We apply the same level of attention and effort to every wrongful death case, no matter the cause.
Recoverable Damages
When a loved one’s life is cut short due to negligence, surviving family members often face serious financial strain. A wrongful death claim helps ease that burden by seeking compensation for both economic and non-economic losses tied to the death. We help clients understand what types of damages may be available and work to recover the full amount they’re owed.
One of the most common forms of compensation includes medical expenses related to the injury or illness that caused the death. This may involve emergency care, hospitalization, or other treatments provided before the loss occurred. Funeral and burial costs are also typically covered.
Lost income is another important area. When a primary wage earner passes away, the household may be left without critical financial support. Wrongful death claims can include the loss of future earnings, retirement contributions, and benefits the deceased would have provided over time. It can also include how your own income was affected due to time off work to handle the death of your loved one.
Non-economic damages play a major role in these cases. While they don’t come with a clear price tag, they reflect the emotional toll of losing a loved one. This can include compensation for mental anguish, loss of companionship, and the impact the death has had on day-to-day life for those left behind.
In some cases, punitive damages may also be available. These are intended to punish the responsible party for especially reckless or intentional conduct. While not awarded in every case, they send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Every case is different, and the damages available depend on the facts and legal relationships involved. An Edmond wrongful death lawyer from our team will review all relevant records, work with professionals to estimate losses, and build a strong claim backed by evidence.
If you’re facing the emotional and financial effects of a wrongful death, our team is ready to support you. Contact Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn how we can help you pursue justice and protect your family’s future.
Common Causes Of Wrongful Death Cases
Losing a loved one due to someone else’s actions is devastating, and the legal process that follows can be overwhelming. When families are faced with these tragic situations, working with an experienced Edmond, OK wrongful death lawyer can provide the support and guidance they need. At Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers, we serve the entire state of Oklahoma, offering compassionate and professional representation for grieving families. Here are some of the most common causes of wrongful death that we encounter in our practice:
1. Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents remain one of the leading causes of wrongful death in Edmond and across Oklahoma. Whether due to speeding, distracted driving, or impaired motorists, fatal crashes often result in preventable loss of life. Survivors may be eligible to file a claim against the at-fault party for compensation related to medical bills, funeral expenses, and the emotional toll of losing a loved one.
2. Medical Malpractice
Errors in hospitals or clinics can have deadly consequences. Surgical mistakes, incorrect prescriptions, failure to diagnose, or delayed treatment may all lead to a patient’s untimely death. For example, if a cancer diagnosis is delayed because doctors diagnose it as a headache and your family member passes away, the doctors can be held liable. When medical professionals fall short of the standard of care, families have the right to pursue justice through a wrongful death claim.
3. Workplace Accidents
Construction sites, oil fields, and manufacturing jobs are just a few of the high-risk industries in Oklahoma. When employers neglect safety regulations or provide faulty equipment, fatal injuries can occur. In some cases, third parties such as equipment manufacturers may also be liable. Multiple parties can be held liable in a single case.
4. Defective Products
When a product malfunctions and causes fatal injuries, the manufacturer, distributor, or designer may be held responsible. This includes faulty automotive parts, dangerous medications, or unsafe household products. A skilled Edmond wrongful death lawyer can help families trace the cause and build a strong case against liable parties.
5. Criminal Acts
Some wrongful deaths result from intentional acts, such as assault or drunk driving. While the criminal justice system handles punishment, families can still seek civil remedies. A wrongful death lawsuit provides a path to financial recovery, even if criminal charges are pending or resolved.
6. Pedestrian Or Bicycle Accidents
When drivers fail to yield, speed through intersections, or ignore traffic signals, they put pedestrians and cyclists at serious risk. These accidents can quickly turn fatal, especially in urban areas or near schools and parks. Pedestrians have no protection against large moving vehicles.
7. Nursing Home Neglect Or Abuse
Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable in nursing facilities. Neglect, such as dehydration, malnutrition, or failure to administer medication, can lead to preventable deaths. Abuse by staff or other residents can also result in fatal injuries that warrant legal action.
8. Trucking Accidents
Large commercial vehicles pose a significant hazard when operated by fatigued, distracted, or poorly trained drivers. Trucking companies may be held accountable if their negligence contributed to a wrongful death.
9. Dangerous Property Conditions
Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe environments. Slip and fall incidents, fires, or inadequate security measures can all result in fatalities. When negligence is proven, survivors may have grounds for a wrongful death claim.
10. Drowning Or Pool Accidents
Improperly secured pools or lack of supervision can result in tragic drownings, especially involving children. Homeowners, hotels, or public pool operators may be liable if they failed to provide appropriate safeguards.
Wrongful death claims are some of the most emotionally challenging cases we handle, but we bring a successful history of beating big insurance companies to every case we take. If you believe your loved one’s death was preventable, reach out to Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers for dedicated legal support.
