When a tour boat capsized in Branson, Missouri yesterday, 17 people died and a number of passengers were injured. This tragedy suddenly cut short the lives of more than a dozen people, some of them feared to be children. Because it was a commercial tour boat, there will be an investigation into whether mistakes were made that caused the accident. If so, it is likely that the tour operator will face a slew of “wrongful death” claims on behalf of the victims and their surviving families.
Our hearts go out to the families involved in this tragedy. Sadly, some of our most important work as personal injury law specialists involves helping families through nightmare scenarios like this. Wrongful death lawsuits arise from many different causes, such as auto accidents, medical malpractice, and construction accidents. These cases are typically complex because of the many variables involved with compensation: the decedent’s salary that could have been earned, life expectancy based on gender and age, and physical and mental health. Burnett & Williams has over two decades of experience working on these difficult and important cases.
While legal action is not something a grieving family member thinks about in the aftermath of a death, in most cases, it is important that an attorney be consulted as soon as possible to avoid compromising the claim. We are especially responsive to the needs of our clients during the difficult time of losing a loved one, and many of our clients report a sense of relief in having us handle the wrongful death claim for the family.
If you have questions about an accident or injury that ultimately resulted in the death of a loved one, please feel free to contact us at any time in one of our seven Virginia offices in Richmond, Leesburg, Midlothian, Reston, Hopewell, Winchester, and Orange.