If a loved one died in Tennessee, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These lawsuits can arise if there’s evidence that the victim died as a result of someone else’s negligence. Take, for example, an incident that occurred in the city of Ridgeville, South Carolina.
An ATV accident involving alcohol
The lawsuit was filed on Aug. 3 and involves an incident that occurred back in 2017. It states that a family member of the decedent, a 19-year-old girl from Michigan, is suing the girl’s boyfriend and that boyfriend’s family in Ridgeville for negligence.
The girl was with her boyfriend one night at a relative’s home when she was offered alcohol and became intoxicated. According to the lawsuit, the homeowners did nothing to prevent this even though they knew that alcohol had been brought to the home. Moreover, they left the keys in an ATV and let the girl drive it. She died in the resulting ATV crash.
No response from the defendants yet
The defendants have not responded to the claim. Police were able to determine that the girl’s blood alcohol concentration shortly after the crash was more than double that of the legal limit of 0.08. The lawsuit states that the girl’s family is still grieving over the loss.
Seeking compensation for a loved one’s death
Filing a wrongful death suit can be difficult even years after the incident, but legal representation may make the process a little less rough. During a case evaluation, a personal injury lawyer may help determine how much you might be eligible for in damages. This means both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
• Pre-death medical bills, if applicable
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Mental anguish
• Loss of support or consortium
The lawyer may engage with the other side in settlement negotiations on your behalf. If the other side does not agree to a fair settlement, you may consider litigation.
