Unfortunately, many families have been affected by the death of loved ones while they were on the job. This not only leads to devastation from losing a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, but it can leave the victim’s immediate family financially hurting as well. If a loved one was killed due to negligence at work, worker’s compensation or insurance may not provide all of the financial resources you need and you should contact an attorney.
What Is Considered Wrongful Death?
In Nevada, a wrongful death may occur if the reckless, intentional, or negligent actions of another party cause the death of someone. If the negligent or reckless actions occurred while on the job, then you need to contact a worker’s compensation attorney in Sparks, NV for advice, especially the victim was killed on another business’s premises or while driving a company vehicle.
To file a wrongful death claim, which falls under personal injury law, you must be:
- A surviving spouse or partner of the deceased.
- The surviving child of the deceased.
- The parents of the deceased, if he or she didn’t have a spouse or child.
- The personal representative of a deceased’s estate.
In some cases, a worker’s compensation attorney at the Houston & Lyon Injury Law Center may help the surviving family seek compensation from the deceased’s worker’s compensation insurance, a personal injury lawsuit, or both.
Statute of Limitations
Under Nevada law, a claim of wrongful death must be filed within two years of the date of death. A case that is not filed within two years may be dismissed, so if you decide to file a wrongful death claim, you should seek the help of a worker’s compensation attorney to do so as soon as you make the decision. Depending on the circumstances, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed along with a worker’s compensation claim.