What Should Families Do After a Fatal Accident?

For family members who are coping with the loss of a loved one in a fatal accident, filing a wrongful death claim can be an important step in the process of beginning to move forward. Filing a wrongful death claim provides an opportunity to hold the at-fault party accountable, and, as a result, it can help provide much-needed closure. 

It can also provide access to the financial resources that family members need for the future. In addition to significant emotional costs, losing a loved one too soon can have significant financial costs as well. When families have wrongful death claims in Wisconsin, these are all costs that they can—and should—seek to recover. 

5 Important Steps to Take After a Fatal Accident in Wisconsin 

With this in mind, if you have tragically lost a loved one in a fatal accident, there are some important steps you should take promptly to protect your family’s legal rights. Here are five steps you should try to take as soon as possible: 

1. Write Down Everything You Know About the Fatal Accident 

While we know it can be incredibly difficult, it is important that you write down everything you know about the fatal accident. Even though what happened will stay with you forever, the details will fade from your mind. As you hear other people’s versions of the events, this could start to impact what you remember about the accident as well. 

When you speak with a wrongful death lawyer about your family’s case, it will be important to provide your family’s lawyer with as many details as possible. It will be important for you to be as accurate as possible as well. So, as you take notes, write down all of the details that come to mind, and avoid making assumptions or passing judgment about what happened or who was to blame. 

2. Start a File Where You’ll Keep Relevant Documents 

From your loved one’s medical records and funeral records to letters from the insurance companies, you will likely receive multiple different types of documents related to your loved one’s death. These documents will be important for your family’s wrongful death claim as well, so you should be sure to keep them to share with your family’s lawyer. 

The easiest way to do this is to start a file. This could be a folder, a drawer, or anything else you can use to stay organized. As you receive documents related to your loved one’s death, make it a habit to add them to your file so that you’ll know where they are when you need them. 

3. Start Keeping Track of Your Losses

Along with keeping a file of important documents, you should also start keeping track of your losses resulting from your loved one’s fatal accident. This includes not only out-of-pocket costs (i.e., medical bills and funeral expenses), but also non-financial losses such as emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. While we know this can be incredibly difficult as well, if you take notes on a daily basis, this will help ensure that your lawyer will be able to seek the full damages you are entitled to recover. 

4. Commit to Staying Off of Social Media

When pursuing a wrongful death claim, it is generally a good idea to stay off of social media. Even in this scenario, the insurance companies will put their interests first—and they may be monitoring your social media accounts to see if you post anything they can use against you. If you find it difficult to stay off of social media, you should at least avoid posting, and instead use social media as a way to find support in your time of need. 

5. Talk to a Wrongful Death Lawyer About Your Family’s Case 

To pursue a wrongful death claim for your loved one’s fatal accident, you will need an experienced lawyer on your side. From proving who was at fault to proving the damages your family is entitled to recover, all aspects of the process require experienced legal representation. After a fatal accident, it is important to investigate promptly—so we strongly recommend scheduling a free consultation as soon as possible. 

Talk to a Wisconsin Wrongful Death Lawyer for FREE

If your family has lost a loved one in a fatal accident, you do not have to figure out the next steps on your own. An experienced Wisconsin wrongful death lawyer can help you understand your family’s legal rights, protect your claim, and pursue the compensation you are entitled to recover.

At Studinski Law, LLC, our mission is simple: We do more so you get more. That means doing more than simply filing paperwork or negotiating with the insurance company. We thoroughly investigate fatal accidents, gather the evidence needed to build strong claims, calculate the full extent of a family’s losses, and prepare every case as though it may go to trial.

Contact a Wisconsin wrongful death attorney at Studinski Law, LLC today online or at (715) 343-2850 for a FREE case evaluation. We proudly serve all of Wisconsin, including Plover, Marshfield, Stevens Point, and other areas.