HART LAW

Columbia Wrongful Death Accident Lawyers at Hart Law Seek Justice for Your Loved One

Losing a loved one is a devastating experience, especially when that loss is due to someone else’s negligent or reckless actions. The Columbia wrongful death attorney team at Hart Law is dedicated to helping family members in South Carolina recover the fair compensation they deserve in these tragic situations. While no amount of money can make up for the loss, our team is here to support you, pursue justice, and seek financial recovery for the hardships you are going through.

If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions, reaching out for a free consultation is the first step. Our Columbia wrongful death lawyer understands your pain. Call Hart Law at (803) 771-7701.

What Constitutes a Wrongful Death in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, wrongful death claim cases can be filed when a person dies due to the wrongful, negligent, or intentional actions of another party. Wrongful death cases can come from many different situations. Our personal injury attorney has the knowledge to handle these sad cases.

Wrongful death accidents can come from many causes:

  • Car, truck, or motorcycle accidents where another driver’s negligence or reckless behavior led to a fatal accident.

  • Medical malpractice incidents in which a healthcare provider’s errors directly result in a preventable death.

  • Defective product injuries where faulty or dangerous products cause a fatal accident.

  • Workplace accidents where unsafe conditions or equipment malfunctions lead to a fatal accident.

  • Intentional acts of violence that directly led to the person’s death.

  • Pedestrian accidents caused by careless drivers.
  • Truck accidents caused by tired or reckless truck drivers.

If your loved one’s death resulted from any of these situations, consulting with a wrongful death attorney can help you better understand your options and determine the best course of action.

Key Elements of a Wrongful Death Case in South Carolina

To build a wrongful death lawsuit, certain legal rules must be met. Typically, there are three main parts in these cases that our SC wrongful death attorney will help you prove:

  • Negligence or Intentional Misconduct: The responsible party’s actions must be deemed either negligent or intentional. For example, a distracted driver who ran a red light or a manufacturer who distributed a faulty product.

  • Causation: The defendant’s actions must be directly related to the victim’s death. This requires a clear connection between the responsible party’s conduct and the fatal outcome.

  • Resulting Damages: Surviving family members must show they have suffered real harm due to the death. This can include medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, loss of time with the person, and emotional suffering.

Proving each of these parts can be hard, requiring deep knowledge of South Carolina law and court rules. Our Columbia wrongful death lawyer has the knowledge and resources to work through these complexities and help you pursue justice.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle

Our wrongful death attorney team at Hart Law has a proven track record of handling all types of wrongful death action cases in Columbia, SC, and across South Carolina. Each type of wrongful death case needs special knowledge and attention.

Negligence-Based Wrongful Death

Negligence happens when a person or business fails to use reasonable care, leading to harm. For instance, a business owner who fails to fix a known hazard that causes a fatal accident could be held liable for wrongful death. In these cases, the responsible party’s actions may not have been on purpose but were still careless, causing the tragedy. A personal injury lawyer can help prove this gross negligence.

Intentional Misconduct and Wrongful Death

In some wrongful death cases, death comes from intentional acts such as assault or homicide. These cases often go with criminal trials, but a wrongful death lawsuit focuses on getting money for the surviving family. Even if a criminal case is happening, you can file a civil wrongful death claim to hold the responsible party financially accountable. Our experienced attorney will fight for maximum compensation in these sad situations.

Defective Product Wrongful Death

Makers, distributors, and sellers must give safe products to buyers. If a defect in a product causes a death, the company may be held strictly liable under wrongful death product laws. Examples include vehicle malfunctions, unsafe medical devices, and faulty household items. In cases with defective products, our wrongful death lawyer will deeply look into all responsible party and liable parties, helping you get the fair compensation your family members need.

Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death

Medical malpractice that leads to death is a serious matter. When a doctor or hospital makes a bad mistake that causes a loved one’s death, surviving family members have the right to file a wrongful death claim. Our personal injury attorney knows how to handle these complex legal claims.

How Our Columbia Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help

Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and no one should have to navigate the complexities of a wrongful death claim alone. At Hart Law, our attorneys are here to help you with every step, from gathering evidence to representing you in court. Here’s how we can support you:

Filing the Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Starting a wrongful death lawsuit involves specific rules, including gathering evidence and making detailed paperwork. Our experienced attorney handles this work for you, making sure your wrongful death claim is filed the right way and on time. We understand the legal process and will make sure nothing is missed.

Evidence Collection and Investigation

A strong wrongful death case depends on thorough investigation and evidence gathering. Our team will do an independent investigation to get police reports, witness testimony, medical records, and any other evidence. We work with forensic experts, accident rebuilders, and other experts to build a complete case that shows the true impact of the loss on your family members. We’ll collect as much evidence as we can to prove your case.

Representing You in Negotiations and Litigation

Many wrongful death case cases settle before going to court, but if insurance companies or responsible party refuse to give fair money, our wrongful death attorney is ready to take the case to trial. In court, we will show a strong case to the judge and jury, fighting hard to get the fair compensation you deserve. We have the skill and drive to win.

Maximizing Your Settlement

Our goal is to get the most money possible for your family members. We talk directly with insurance companies and other lawyers to reach a fair deal. If a good settlement cannot be reached, we are ready to fight for you in court to make sure justice is served. Your wrongful death claim matters to us.

Compensation in South Carolina Wrongful Death Claims

After a wrongful death, surviving family members can seek two primary types of compensation:

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover specific financial losses resulting from your loved one’s death, such as:

  • Medical Bills: The costs of medical treatment provided before the victim’s passing.

  • Funeral and Burial Expenses: Necessary costs for laying your loved one to rest.

  • Lost Income: Money for the wages and benefits your loved one’s death would have given.

  • Loss of Future Earnings: Estimated financial support your loved one would have contributed over time.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the emotional and intangible losses experienced by surviving family members, such as:

  • Loss of Companionship: The loss of emotional support and companionship of a partner or parent.

  • Loss of Parental Guidance: Damages awarded for the loss of a parent’s guidance and support.

  • Pain and Suffering: The emotional anguish and grief caused by the unexpected loss of a loved one.

A Columbia wrongful death attorney can help you evaluate these damages and understand what compensation might be available for your family members.

Punitive Damages in Wrongful Death Cases

In some wrongful death cases where the responsible party acted with reckless conduct or gross negligence, punitive damages may be awarded. These damages punish bad behavior and deter it in the future.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in South Carolina?

South Carolina law restricts who can file a wrongful death claim. Typically, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate will file the claim on behalf of certain surviving family members. Those eligible to benefit from a wrongful death claim include:

  • Surviving spouse or domestic partner

  • Children of the deceased

  • Parents of the deceased (if no spouse or children exist)

  • Other legal heirs, as designated by South Carolina’s intestate succession laws

An experienced attorney can help make sure the right person files a wrongful death claim and that it includes all eligible family members.

South Carolina’s Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

Time is very important in wrongful death cases. South Carolina law gives you a set time to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The wrongful death statute in South Carolina requires that you file a wrongful death lawsuit within three years from the date of the accident happened. Missing this date can mean you lose your right to recover damages. This is why calling a wrongful death lawyer soon after loved one’s death is so important.

From Investigation to Resolution

Our law firm handles your entire wrongful death case from start to end. We understand the legal process and how to move through the probate court system. We know how to build legal claims that win. Whether your case settles or goes to trial, we are with you every step.

We start by getting as much evidence as we can. Then we work with experts to rebuild what happened. We talk with insurance companies and fight for seek compensation that is fair. If needed, we take your case to court and fight for maximum compensation.

Our proven track record shows we know how to win wrongful death accident cases. We have helped victim’s family members get the money they needed to move on.

Why Choose Hart Law as Your Wrongful Death Law Firm

Losing a loved one is deeply painful. The last thing you should do is go through the money and legal process burden of wrongful death alone. At Hart Law, our Columbia wrongful death attorney is here to support you and pursue justice for your family members. We understand the complexity of these cases and work hard to give strong, feeling representation.

We are not just another law office. We are advocates for surviving families who have suffered a great loss. We recover damages and help family members move ahead. Your wrongful death action is our fight too.

Call Our Columbia Wrongful Death Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Losing a loved one is deeply painful, and the last thing you should face alone is the financial and legal burden caused by wrongful death. At Hart Law, our Columbia wrongful death accident attorneys are here to support you and pursue justice for your family. We understand the complexities of these cases and work diligently to build strong, compassionate representation.

To learn more about your legal options and discuss your case in a free consultation, contact Hart Law at (803) 771-7701 or visit our contact page.