Wrongful Death Attorneys | Loveland, CO
The loss of a loved due to negligence one can leave you feeling devastated and overwhelmed. You do not have to navigate this time alone, though. The Loveland wrongful death lawyers at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C are here to stand by your side and help you navigate the legal complexities. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling 303-447-1144.
The sudden loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is emotionally and financially devastating. Beyond the overwhelming grief, families must navigate unexpected expenses while seeking justice for the harm done. Although no amount of money can replace a life, a wrongful death lawsuit can provide financial stability and hold the responsible party accountable.
At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C., we understand the pain, uncertainty, and frustration that come with losing a loved one unexpectedly. With over 100 years of combined experience, our Loveland wrongful death lawyer provides compassionate legal representation, guiding families through the legal process while aggressively pursuing compensation.
Why Choose Us
We have over 100 years of combined experience
We provide personalized attention
We offer free initial consultations
We hold insurance companies accountable
We have recovered over $230 Million for our clients
How the Wrongful Death Lawsuit Process Works in Colorado
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Colorado involves several legal steps. Understanding these requirements can help families take action while avoiding procedural pitfalls that could jeopardize their claim.
Step 1: Determine Eligibility to File
Colorado law specifies who can bring a wrongful death claim:
- First year after death. The surviving spouse has the exclusive right to file. If no spouse exists, the deceased’s children may file instead.
- Second year after death. The spouse, children, or designated beneficiary may bring a claim. If the deceased had none of these, the parents may seek compensation.
- Survival action. The estate’s personal representative may file for losses incurred before death, such as medical expenses and lost wages.
Understanding these is the first step to a successful wrongful death claim.
Step 2: Gather Evidence to Support the Claim
A successful case requires solid evidence proving negligence, liability, and damages. Key forms of evidence include:
- Medical records and autopsy reports,
- Accident reports and law enforcement findings,
- Surveillance footage or photos of the incident,
- Witness statements, and
- Expert testimony from medical and financial professionals.
An experienced Loveland wrongful death attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence.
Step 3: File Within the Statute of Limitations
Colorado law limits the time to file a wrongful death claim. Families have two years from the date of death to take legal action. Missing this deadline could result in losing the right to seek compensation.
Certain exceptions may extend the filing period, such as cases involving criminal investigations or concealed evidence. To avoid missing critical deadlines, it is essential to consult a Loveland wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.
Step 4: Negotiate a Settlement or Proceed to Trial
Many wrongful death lawsuits are resolved through negotiations with insurance companies. However, if insurers refuse to offer fair compensation, filing a lawsuit and preparing for trial may be necessary. Our Loveland wrongful death law firm fights for full and fair compensation, whether through settlement discussions or courtroom litigation.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Colorado
Wrongful death cases arise from various negligent actions. Some of the most common causes include:
- Car accidents,
- Medical malpractice,
- Workplace hazards,
- Defective products, and
- Unsafe premises conditions.
If a loved one’s passing resulted from another party’s recklessness, negligence, or misconduct, our Loveland wrongful death claim lawyers can help determine your legal options.
Types of Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case
A wrongful death lawsuit seeks to provide financial relief for surviving family members after the loss of a loved one. Colorado law allows families to recover economic, noneconomic, and, in some cases, punitive damages. The amount of compensation varies depending on the deceased’s financial contributions, the extent of the surviving family’s losses, and the level of negligence involved.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial impact of the wrongful death, ensuring families are not left with overwhelming expenses. These damages include:
- Medical expenses. If the deceased required medical care before passing, compensation may cover hospital stays, emergency treatments, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation efforts. This includes any costs incurred from the time of the accident or injury until death.
- Funeral and burial costs. Losing a loved one is emotionally devastating, and funeral expenses can place additional stress on families. Compensation may cover funeral services, caskets, cremation, burial plots, headstones, and memorial services.
- Loss of income and financial support. Families often depend on the deceased’s income for financial stability. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for lost wages the deceased would have earned, as well as lost future earnings and benefits such as retirement contributions, pensions, and health insurance.
- Loss of household contributions. Many individuals contribute to their households beyond financial earnings. Compensation may include the value of services such as childcare, home maintenance, elder care, meal preparation, or transportation that the deceased provided.
Economic damages are easily calculated with receipts, invoices, medical records, and other evidence. A wrongful death lawyer can work with you to gather the needed documents.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages account for the emotional and psychological losses surviving family members suffer. While these damages are harder to quantify, they recognize the deeply personal impact of losing a loved one. These may include:
- Pain and suffering. Surviving family members often experience profound emotional distress, depression, and trauma due to their loss. Compensation may be awarded to recognize the unexpected psychological impact of losing a loved one.
- Loss of companionship. When a spouse or partner dies, their absence leaves an irreplaceable void. Surviving spouses may recover damages for the loss of emotional support, love, and affection the deceased provided.
- Loss of parental guidance. When a parent dies, children lose not only financial support but also mentorship, care, and emotional guidance. Compensation may reflect the profound effect of losing a parent’s presence and influence.
- Loss of consortium. Spouses may also seek damages for the loss of physical intimacy and the close bond they shared with their deceased partner.
Colorado places a cap on noneconomic damages in wrongful death cases, which means there is a legal limit to how much you can recover for emotional losses. However, exceptions may apply in cases involving reckless or intentional misconduct.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may be awarded when reckless behavior or intentional harm led to the wrongful death. These damages are not meant to compensate the family but instead punish the at-fault party and deter similar actions in the future.
How Is Compensation Calculated?
The total compensation awarded in a wrongful death case depends on several factors, including:
- The deceased’s age, health, and life expectancy at the time of death;
- The deceased’s income, job benefits, and financial contributions to the household;
- The emotional and psychological impact on surviving family members;
- The nature of the negligence or misconduct involved in the wrongful death case; and
- The evidence presented to support the claim, includes testimony from financial experts, medical professionals, and legal specialists.
Because wrongful death claims require detailed calculations, our Loveland wrongful death law firm works closely with financial analysts, medical professionals, and forensic accountants to ensure that families receive full and fair compensation.
3 Reasons Why You Need a Loveland Wrongful Death Lawyers
While you may feel confident in your ability to handle your case without professional help, you’ll soon realize that presenting an injury claim requires a lot of hard work and legal expertise.
When you should be working your way back from painful disabilities, you’ll have to comply with insurance adjuster requests. Before you see a single dime of settlement money, there is a long list of procedures and issues to follow through. It will be your job to contact doctors for bills and reports.
Taking care of a serious injury case on your own involves focus on investigation, evaluation, and negotiation. Instead of taking on these new challenges, you should be working on your personal recovery.
When you are seriously injured, your financial future depends on obtaining adequate compensation for your injuries. You have a lot at stake. That’s why it’s important to seek help from a Loveland Wrongful Death Lawyers before you make a critical mistake. Here are 3 additional reasons to consider.
1. Liability Issues
Accidents often involve liability issues that can be difficult to resolve. Colorado’s comparative negligence statute plays a key role in liability assessments. You must determine whether or not you contributed to the circumstances which caused the accident and how it may affect the compensation you receive for your injuries.
2. Dealing with Insurance Companies and Adjusters
When you have a serious injury claim, the other driver’s insurance company adjuster will call and may want to visit your home. It’s an adjuster’s job to clear up any liability issues, so they must record your statement.
3. Calculating Damages
When you’re injured, you know the pain, disabilities, and scarring you are forced to endure, but do you know their economic value? Injury claims don’t have one-size-fits-all evaluations. If two different people sustain the same injury, the settlement value will be different due to a wide range of factors. Attorneys research your injuries to understand how they affect you.
Why Choose Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C.?
At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C., we understand that families need support, guidance, and strong legal representation to navigate the wrongful death claims process. Our firm offers:
- Decades of experience. Our legal team has over 100 years of experience handling wrongful death cases in Colorado.
- A proven record of success. We have recovered more than $230 million in verdicts and settlements.
- Personalized legal strategies. We tailor every case to meet the unique needs of each family.
- Statewide representation. We serve families in Loveland, Boulder, Denver, and throughout Colorado.
- Free consultations. We provide no-cost case evaluations to help families understand their legal options.
Our firm is dedicated to advocating for grieving families, ensuring that negligent parties are held accountable while securing the maximum compensation possible.
Speak with a Loveland Wrongful Death Attorney Today
If your family has suffered the loss of a loved one due to negligence, our Loveland wrongful death lawyers are here to support, guide, and fight for justice. The statute of limitations imposes strict filing deadlines, so acting quickly is essential. Contact Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. today for a free consultation. We are ready to advocate for your family’s future.