Halifax Wrongful Death Lawyers

When you or a loved one are seriously injured, it can be difficult to decide who to trust with your case. And when a loved one, unfortunately, passes away from their injuries, the pressure and despair increase exponentially. NOVA Injury Law is strictly a personal injury law firm with lawyers serving Halifax, Nova Scotia, and beyond. We represent people hurt in motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice claims, long-term disability claims, and the families of injured persons that lose their lives in these accidents. We dedicate 100% of our time and resources to pursuing personal injury and wrongful death claims. While other law firms may choose to have a broad focus, we believe that specializing is the best way to get our clients the fair compensation they deserve.

We double down on medical evidence because that’s what makes the difference for our clients. Dr. Laura Mitchell is our head, in-house medical consultant. She is a practicing emergency department physician with a background in supporting workplace injuries. When not practicing, she works with our legal team on every single file, ensuring everyone appreciates the complex medical issues at play. Our team benefits from an extensive network of medical professionals, all prepared to work in the client’s best interests.

We’re a compassionate, down-to-earth law firm that understands what serious injury victims and grieving family members are going through. Our clients have the freedom to focus on their recovery because they know when it comes time to negotiate, we come to the table armed with evidence to back up the claim. Anyone in northwestern Nova Scotia is welcome to call NOVA Injury Law for a free case review. We’ll let you know how the law applies to your case, what your claim may be worth, and how we can help.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Nova Scotia?

Generally, immediate family members of the deceased person can now file for a civil action wrongful death lawsuit if their loved one died to the negligence of another. While historically, there had to be criminal filings involved to get injury compensation, these used not to be as accessible if the victim died. Now, there are many more options for grieving families to recover damages, funeral and burial expenses, and more.

What Do I Do if Someone I Love Has Been Involved in a Fatal Accident?

First and foremost, it is of utmost importance to ensure medical care has been acquired for injured parties. Do not panic. Check yourself for injuries and seek emergency medical attention if needed. If someone is severely injured or appears to be deceased, call 911 immediately.

You need to report the accident to the police if anyone is hurt or if there has been significant property damage. If you don’t require emergency medical care, you can start collecting insurance and contact information.

Within a few days, report what happened to your own insurance company and see your family doctor. If treatment is recommended, your own insurance policy will cover the associated costs. Remember, you’re not obligated to speak to the other driver’s insurance company, and it’s best to get professional advice from a car accident or wrongful death lawyer before you do. Filing a wrongful death claim can be difficult. A lawyer can help you:

Review the accident
Gather evidence
Draft the initial documents
Calculate a fair settlement amount
Ensure proper filing

Your lawyer will discuss options to take your claim to trial and offer you resources in the aftermath of your loss. While your document and build your case, a settlement may take place at any time, or the case will go to full trial, where your lawyer will present the evidence and testimony, as well as examine the defense’s claims in court. A settlement is a kind of agreement that exchanges financial compensation for taking the case out of court; settlements can be large lump sums, or they can be regular payment agreements that are dispersed over time. It is highly recommended that you speak with a qualified lawyer before accepting any kind of settlement to ensure that your family is being given full and fair compensation.

How Does a Lawyer Determine Compensation for a Wrongful Death Claim?

Calculating compensation in a wrongful death claim is somewhat complicated because the ultimate victim of the negligent party’s carelessness is no longer able to speak about how they and their family members have been affected. Because of this, it often falls upon the shoulders of grieving family members to hold companies or other involved parties accountable. This, in some cases, can feel like having to re-experience their loved one’s death a second time. Consider contacting a reputable law firm to help you manage some of the stress and trauma tied to your case.

Factors to consider include the nature and severity of the injury, who was at fault in the car accident, treatment received and required in the future, the impact the injury has on your ability to work, the impact the injury has on your daily activities, and the ways friends and family support you in your injury.

It’s always a good idea to consult with a lawyer on the strength and value of your claim. Contact NOVA Injury Law at any time for risk- and obligation-free consultation.

Are There Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims?

Generally, a two-year limitation period applies to most claims, beginning from the date of the accident. If the clock runs over the two-year mark, you risk losing your right to claim compensation. The only way to protect your claim is to file a legal action with the court – speaking with a car accident lawyer or the insurance company isn’t enough.

Of course, if you settle before the two-year deadline, you don’t need to worry, but it’s still not a good idea to leave things to the last minute! We suggest contacting a car accident or wrongful death lawyer at least three months before the expiry of your claim or even earlier if a death has occurred. It is important to note that the two-year limitation period does not apply to all cases. If your accident was one where the at-fault driver is unknown, or if your lawsuit is against a municipality, you only have one year to file your claim.

While wrongful death cases are notoriously complex and stressful, and it’s true that a lawyer will almost always add value to a case like this by offering you resources to fight major companies or by assisting you with litigation, it’s important to understand that not all cases require a lawyer’s involvement to be found in fav our of the claimant. A good wrongful death lawyer will always be upfront with you about costs and limitations present in your case, as well as whether or not they believe they can add significant value to your claim once all your fees are accounted for. Surviving family members should be focusing on grieving, not on legal fees or medical expenses – our wrongful death lawyers can fight for you, so you have the space to do that.

Do Wrongful Death Claims Only Apply to Car Accidents?

Not at all. If someone you love has died in an accident due to the negligence or mistakes of another motor vehicle driver, their employer, their doctor, or anyone else, this could be considered a wrongful death claim. Unfortunately, fatal accidents happen with surprising frequency.

If this sounds like your situation, a wrongful death lawyer may be able to help you recover damages or compensation on behalf of your deceased loved one. Other types of fatal injuries that may be considered wrongful death cases can include:

Motorcycle, ATV, or Boat Accidents
Medical Malpractice resulting in Death
Construction and other Workplace Accidents
Exposure to Dangerous Environments or Chemicals
Exposure to Assault or other Criminal Activity
Defective Product Injuries resulting in Death
And More

For any questions regarding our services or to set up a free consultation, please contact us at 902-706-5205. Never face the seemingly insurmountable task of dealing with a death caused by negligence alone, feeling uncertain of how to proceed.

How can the Wrongful Death Lawyers at NOVA Injury Law Help Me?

There is nothing more devastating in this world than losing a loved one to the carelessness of another. Often survivors are left to pick up the pieces of their lives on their own, and they may not know whom to turn to for help to make their voices heard. When you’re not sure whom to rely on, lean on the expertise of the compassionate wrongful death lawyers and medical experts at NOVA Injury Law. Aside from the free case review, the no-obligation consultation, and contingency fee agreement available for many types of claims, NOVA Injury Law is a proudly Nova Scotian law firm that offers something that other Atlantic Canadian law firms do not – we are the only injury law firm in Atlantic Canada with a doctor as part of our leadership team.

Dr. Laura Mitchell is a practicing emergency room physician with special training in occupational medicine, meaning she specializes in work-related injuries and illnesses. Working directly with a knowledgeable medical professional allows the lawyers at NOVA Injury Law to properly support claims with the most complete, accurate, and convincing medical evidence that is gathered by a reputable consulting expert. That way, when a wrongful death occurs, we can put forth the strongest case possible for you to get your family the compensation you deserve.

If you or one of your loved ones has been the victim of an accident or medical negligence caused by the negligence of another party that resulted in death, please contact the veteran personal injury lawyers of NOVA Injury Law today. For more information or to set up an initial consultation, you can reach us by calling 902-706-5205 at any time. No obligations are attached. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to support you and your loved ones via email, text, Facebook messenger, and more. We’ll be there for you every step of the way.