Many families in Oklahoma will receive a phone call before 2024 ends that turns their world upside down in an instant. On the other end of the line will be a police officer who informs them there has been a motor vehicle collision. Some people will hear a knock at their door and discover a deputy who tries as gently as possible to inform them that their loved one has suffered fatal injuries in a car accident. Coping with unexpected loss is difficult, especially in a wrongful death situation.
The phrase “wrongful death” refers to circumstances where a person has died because of a situation that was preventable had it not been for another individual’s or group’s negligence. Coping with the unexpected loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult things a family can experience in life. Accepting support from neighbors, relatives and members of the community can help families come to terms with a preventable tragedy.
Wrongful death issues have an immediate and far-reaching impact
Learning that a drunk driver, distracted driver or reckless driver has caused a collision that resulted in fatal injuries to your loved one may spark intense feelings of frustration and anger. Many grieving family members experience guilt, as well, thinking that they somehow should have been able to keep their loved one safe. The following list includes types of support available to help families cope:
- Someone can make phone calls to inform others of the loved one’s death.
- Someone can initiate an insurance claim.
- People can offer emotional support, just by being available to listen and keep family members company as they process their grief.
- Someone can be present when a surviving spouse, parent or other family member must speak with investigators about the accident.
- People can help plan a memorial service.
- Someone can contact a legal representative to discuss filing a wrongful death claim.
- Someone can help with burial issues, such as choosing a headstone or scheduling cremation.
If you have experienced the sudden loss of a loved one in a motor vehicle collision, accepting this type of support may help alleviate stress as you do your best to navigate the days and weeks that follow the accident. A legal representative can explain the options available for you to seek financial recovery on behalf of the decedent.
Your loved one would have a right to compensation had he or she survived
If your loved one survived a collision caused by another driver’s negligence, he or she would be able to seek compensation for damages. Oklahoma laws permit an immediate family member to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a deceased loved one. Many families say that, while filing a legal claim cannot replace the loss of a human life, it brings closure and a sense of justice to make sure the individual whose negligence caused the death is held accountable in court.
