People trust doctors with their lives and the lives of their loved ones. They do this because they expect that the doctor who treats them is diligent, careful, and has the training and skill necessary to perform whatever procedure he or she is assigned. For this reason, when a person loses their loved one at the hands of a doctor who had the responsibility for their care, it is devastating. It is even more painful when the death was something that was preventable.

The legal system allows the surviving family members to hold a negligent healthcare provider responsible for their loved one’s death. However, it is a complex process, and if it is not carried out in the right way, surviving family members can destroy their lawsuit before it even gets a chance to get off the ground.

Disconnect from Social Media

After the death of a loved one, social media is one of the ways that friends and family members can express their grief and condolences. Unfortunately, social media accounts can also be used by the defense in a wrongful death claim. Regardless of how secure a person has their social media accounts, the defense will argue that since images of the deceased individual were published on a public forum, there is no presumption of privacy. This means that the defense could use images of your deceased family member as a way to discredit injuries. So before filing a wrongful death claim, deactivate your social media profiles.

Never Lie

Insurance companies and defense attorneys are trained to ferret out the truth. Any lies that are told during the course of discovery or while in court will come to light. These lies will destroy any personal injury claim or wrongful death suit. Lies will taint the way that a jury perceives surviving family members at trial. Telling the truth will help a person avoid perjuring themselves.

Hire a Qualified Attorney

While a family may have a strong relationship with their family attorney, they are likely not the one the family should use when filing a wrongful death suit. Bulluck Law Group and similar firms that specialize in personal injury and wrongful death claims are a better option. Dealing with insurance companies, doctors, and their legal teams is a challenge. Insurance companies will have a bank of experienced attorneys at their disposal. If an insurance company realizes that they are dealing with a lawyer or law firm that has not won medical malpractice suits in the past, they may try to low ball their offer. However, dealing with an experienced lawyer makes them treat the surviving family fairly.

Demand Open Communication

Losing a loved one because of a doctor’s negligence is one of the most painful things a person can go through in their life. They should not have to go through this experience in the dark. It is fair to demand that both the legal team and medical professionals answer your questions.

Families will feel the pain of the loss of their loved ones for the rest of their lives. However, filing a wrongful death suit can bring some form of closure and reduce the expense associated with this type of loss.