Mississippi Wrongful Death Lawyers
Losing a loved one is an emotionally devastating time in life. If the death was caused by the negligence or carelessness of another, the grieving process can be even more difficult to bear.
Your loved one deserves justice, but reaching that goal takes time, effort, and a knowledge of wrongful death law. Let the attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton walk you through the process and fight for the compensation you deserve, allowing you to focus on grieving and recovering from your loss.
The Mississippi Wrongful Death Statute (Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13) allows the family and statutory beneficiaries of the deceased to recover monetary damages against the party responsible for causing the death of their loved one. Since the party(s) bringing the wrongful death claim ultimately stand in the shoes of the decedent, if it is determined at trial that the decedent contributed to his/her own death, the recovery may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the decedent for bringing about his/her own death.
Unlike other areas of the law, the Mississippi wrongful death statute makes no distinction between the rights of whole and half-blood relatives. In other words, half-blood relatives are entitled to the same share of wrongful death benefits as any of the decedent’s full-blooded relatives.
What is the value of a human life? In short, determining the value of a wrongful death lawsuit can be very difficult. In an attempt to balance the fact that every human life is priceless with the fact that a price must ultimately be placed on the loss of life, the amount of jury awards are often very different depending on the particular facts and circumstances of the case.
In an attempt to provide some guidance to jurors, the Mississippi Supreme Court in Jones v. Shaffer, 573 So.2d 740, 743 (Miss. 1990) held that the elements of damage for a wrongful death claim may include:
- The expenses of last illness
- Any conscious pain and suffering of the deceased
- Funeral expenses
- The present net cash value of the deceased’s work life expectancy
- The loss of society and companionship of the deceased, although not “grief” as such
- Punitive damages, upon proof of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
If you or friend have recently lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, it is imperative that you seek out a competent attorney to assist you with your claim. Contact the experienced Southaven wrongful death attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton today for guidance in this very difficult time.
For more information on local wrongful death law, visit our DeSoto County, Hernando, Olive Branch, Southaven, Tunica, and Memphis, Tennessee pages.
Voices From Our Community
Our Client Reviews
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“My daughter and I had the pleasure of working with Matt Dalton and was thoroughly impressed by his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for my daughter.”- Tymara D.
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“Stroud Law Firm is truly outstanding. They are highly professional, maintain excellent communication, and are always client-oriented. Throughout my experience, they kept me informed and made sure I understood every step of the process.”- Julia D.
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“The lawyers at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton represented my case with ease and great professionalism. I appreciated their integrity and would highly recommend this firm.”- Suzanne R.
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“I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Flechas for his exceptional handling of me and my families case. From the start, he showed compassion and professionalism, all while making sure we felt supported.”- Ricky B.
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“Attorney Philip Stroud and Paralegal Heather Zarlingo with Stroud, Flechas and Dalton navigated me through a traumatic time after a 19-year old boy hit me going through a red light at 60 miles per hour.”- Becka P.
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“Mr. Dalton was amazing. He made the whole process seamless. He carries himself with such confidence and was extremely kind. He always returned my calls and made sure I was aware of everything going on.”- Ashley R.
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“If your looking for a law firm that will bend over backwards for you, look no further. This law firm went to bat for my wife and I and knocked it out of the park. We were very satisfied with our settlement. Make sure you check out their website also.”- David J.
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“Cannot say enough good about Mr. Matt Dalton. His empathy, professionalism, and wit made the entire process seamless and as worry-free as one could be.”- Solemn W.
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“I'm very pleased with how Stroud, Flechas & Dalton handled my case. Their staff was friendly and helpful. My questions were answered patiently and in a timely manner, and my case was handled quickly.”- Whitney G.