Losing a loved one can be one of the most painful experiences, especially when it happens due to the negligence of another person. If you are a family member, you must be going through a very hard time. For recovering your damages, you have various options available, which you can explore with the help of a Portland personal injury lawyer.
However, often families of the deceased make silly mistakes during the process. It is important to get legal guidance to avoid such mistakes so the process can run smoothly. You have already lost a loved one; you do not want to ruin the claim.
Mistakes to avoid in a wrongful death claim
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Making a public statement.
When someone dies in a public or noticeable manner, the news of their death is often captured by the media and spread on their channels. The media may want to speak with you and your family, and you also may want to seek justice by taking their help. While you may think this will help your case, it might actually ruin things for you.
Losing a loved one is an extremely emotional time. It is not the best time to put yourself and your family in that position. You might end up saying something you do not mean and decrease your chances of winning any recovery.
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Filing a late claim.
Following the loss of a loved one, it may be difficult for you to process the information and move on with your life, let alone think about filing a claim. While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a human’s life, recovering the damages can provide some sense of justification. If you wish to recover your damages, you must act quickly.
The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Portland, Oregon, is three years from the date of the accident. You must initiate the claim without wasting any time, as preparing the paperwork and filing can take some time. Once the statute expires, the claim won’t be successful.
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Fighting the family of the liable party.
Indeed, the loss of a loved one can heighten your emotions like in no other situation. You may be feeling sad, guilty, and even angry at the liable party. However, quarreling or fighting with your own or the responsible party’s family is not the best thing to do. This is a difficult time for both parties. It is important to trust and listen to your family members instead of arguing over disagreements.
