Fewer Cases Better Results
Is Murder the Same As A Wrongful Death? – Part 2
As mentioned in previous blog posts, a criminal case is separate and independent from a civil case. Some deaths result in only a criminal case (murder or manslaughter), but no civil case. Others may result in a civil case (known as wrongful death) but no criminal case. Still others may result in both. So yes,… read more
Who receives the award? Must it be shared by the entire family?
Like most things in law, this is not always clear-cut. The law simply states that proceeds shall be distributed “in accordance with each beneficiary’s loss.” In many cases, the beneficiaries can all agree to a distribution. If this is not possible, a judge will determine how to split up the proceeds among the beneficiaries. We… read more
How are damages determined? This is perhaps is the most complicated issue in Oregon wrongful death laws because so many factors have to be taken into consideration, including: Medical bills and burial expenses. The loss of wages the person would have earned had they lived. This is usually determined by an expert economist who will… read more
Who Should I Talk to After The Wrongful Death of a Loved One
After the death of a loved one, many people say that they can’t find anyone who will talk about the death directly. Maybe it’s because people are scared, or maybe they think they are protecting your feelings, but whatever the reason, it can be difficult to find someone who will speak clearly and directly about… read more
Punitive Damages for a Wrongful Death Case
Punitive damages may be recovered in some wrongful death cases. Punitive damages are widely misunderstood, largely due to the McDonalds coffee case. Many people are under the false impression that punitive damages are a road to riches. Punitive damages are difficult to prove. You are not allowed to even ask for them until after you… read more
What are the Limits on Non-economic Damages?
In personal injury cases, there are two basic forms of “damages” a client may recover: economic and non-economic damages. Some lawyers will refer to them as “general” and “special” damages, but the correct terms are economic and non-economic damages. Most wrongful death damages are determined by law using the criteria defined earlier (see the ORS 30.020 damages described… read more
What Happens if Alcohol is Involved in a Wrongful Death?
If alcohol was involved in a death, and if the server of the alcohol was partly responsible for the death because they served an already visibly intoxicated person, or served a minor, or failed to perform their server duties correctly in other ways (which are defined by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission), you may be… read more
What is the Time Limit for a Tort Claim Notice?
It is not always clear what a “public body” is. If a person works for a city, county, or the state, then it’s pretty obvious. But did you know that OHSU (Oregon Heath Science University) can be considered a “public body” for the purpose of this rule? “Public body” is defined in ORS 30.260, and… read more
How Long do you Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
In addition to the practical time limit of trying to gather information while it’s fresh, there are also legal time limits. These legal time limits are called “statutes of limitations” and you will hear this term a lot. First, another statement of our disclaimer: statutes of limitations are notoriously difficult. There are many, many special… read more
Wrongful Death: Securing Evidence in a Timely Manner
Immediately after the death of a loved one, you are likely in no condition to be talking with lawyers, thinking about legalities, or, certainly, securing evidence. But we can promise you, the insurance company and lawyers for the person or company responsible for the death will not hesitate. They will rush out and gather whatever… read more