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When Your Back Is Against The Wall

North Carolina Wrongful Death Lawyers

Compassionate, Dedicated Representation for Your Family

If someone you love has died as a result of negligence, no lawsuit can bring him or her back. While filing a wrongful death claim may seem like the least of your concerns at the moment, it can provide you with the compensation you may need to pick up the pieces after your tragedy.

At Lanier Law Group, P.A., we have a reputation for being compassionate with our clients and unforgiving with the opposition.

We realize the pain you are experiencing can feel unbearable. If someone else is to blame for the passing of your family member, we want to help you fight for the justice and recovery you and your family deserve. We have several offices across North Carolina to conveniently meet with you, including Asheville, Charlotte, and Raleigh.

Call (855) 757-4204 to schedule a free consultation with a North Carolina wrongful death attorney at our firm. Se habla español. 

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

When the negligence of another person or entity results in a fatal accident or incident in North Carolina, the personal representative of the deceased is entitled to file a lawsuit on behalf of the estate of the deceased and his or her legal heirs.

A personal representative is appointed by the court to act as a fiduciary representative of a deceased person and manage his or her affairs. This person is usually designated in the deceased’s will, but may also be drawn from his or her relatives in accordance with state law.

The remainder is distributed to survivors in accord with North Carolina’s intestacy rules. This means that a surviving spouse receives the entire amount unless there are also surviving children or parents of the deceased.

If there are surviving parents or children, they may also be entitled to a share depending on the amount recovered and other circumstances. Without professional guidance, it can be difficult for families to handle these complex matters — especially when emotions are running high after a death.

Benefits to Heirs

If you have recently lost a loved one due to wrongful death, an experienced North Carolina wrongful death attorney at our office can meet with you to discuss filing a claim. Under North Carolina law, the surviving family members of a wrongful death victim may have the right to be compensated for their loss.

Types of recoverable damages include:

  • Expenses for care, treatment, and hospitalization relevant to the injury that resulted in death
  • Compensation for pain and suffering of the decedent
  • The reasonable funeral expenses of the decedent
  • The present monetary value of the decedent to the persons entitled to receive the damages, including compensation for the loss of the reasonably expected:
    • Net income of the decedent
    • Services, protection, care, and assistance of the decedent, whether voluntary or obligatory, to the persons entitled to the damages recovered
    • Society, companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices, and advice of the decedent to the persons entitled to the damages recovered
  • Such punitive damages as the decedent could have recovered pursuant to Chapter 1D of the General Statutes had he or she survived, and punitive damages for wrongfully causing the death of the decedent through malice or willful or wanton conduct, as defined in G.S. 1D 5

In some cases, a person suffers a catastrophic injury and passes away after undergoing medical treatment. If this was the situation with your loved one, you may obtain compensation for those medical bills. Our legal team has helped countless clients who lost family members to injuries caused by negligence.

Documents to Gather for a Wrongful Death Claim

Before we get started on your case, it will be helpful (and, for some things, necessary) to provide us with the following information and items:

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We Fight for Our Clients

*Featured Case Results, Settlements, & Trial Wins From Our Attorneys
  • $5.95 Million Permanent Brain Failure

    Our client had a brick fly off of a utility trailer and go through their windshield and hit her on the face.

  • $4.8 Million Settlement

    A case with multiple plaintiffs who were potentially exposed to a deadly disease while in the hospital.

  • $4.3 Million Head-On Collision

    Personal injury litigation settlement for a client who was involved in a head-on collision with a commercial tractor-trailer.

  • $3.1 Million Birth Injury/Hypoxic Brain Injury

    The OB doctor’s negligence caused a delay in the baby’s birth which resulted in the baby suffering of a severe hypoxic brain injury.

  • $1.8 Million Litigation Settlement

    Our client was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a meat truck.

  • $1.375 Million Medication Overdose/Hospital Negligence

    Our client died following an overdose of medication that occurred as a result of the negligence of the nursery staff while they were in the hospital.

We Never Back Down From a Fight

Featured Reviews, Testimonials & Results
    "20 out of 10 stars."
    There are times in your life you are so hurt and feel life has a grudge against you. Nothing in your life is going right. I lost the most important person in my life to death, of which I knew mistakes were made because I witnessed it with my own eyes. When you contact a law group you most of the time get all business and a matter of fact conversation. I want all to know that from the first phone call they listened to my lengthy story, sobbing most of the time with so much compassion. They never made any promises but offered assurances that no stone would be unturned. They fulfilled every word they said. They restored faith that I had lost. Until you are in a position like mine you can never know how invaluable Lanier Law Group is. They were wonderful while maintaining their professionalism. They treated me like a family member. They really do care about their clients. But most of all they are the best at what they do. I worked in the court system for years so I knew how attorneys and law firms basically operated. Understanding the law and it's interpretation is the ultimate key to winning any case. Also know that if an attorney/attorneys study and review your case and know that you don't have a chance in a court of law and are big enough to tell you that instead of giving you false hope, you then my friend have a group with valuable shared values. I have so much respect for everyone in this Law Group. I recommend Lanier Law Group, P.A. to anyone who needs representation, they are in your corner. 20 out of 10 stars.
    - Diane W.
    "Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members"
    I started working with Lanier Law Group in 2020 on my Social Security Disability case. They from start to finish were awesome. My case manager Janet Hanks and attorney, Ashley Sappenfield were always available to answer all my questions. I did not have to do much but sit back and let them handle whatever was needed. My case took too long (2 years) and if I did not have Janet and Ashley My case would still not be approved. I would recommend Lanier to anyone to get the job done and approved. Do not go to another firm with your case, who promise the world and do not see it to completion and do not think another firms would have worked as hard as they did on my case. Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members to handle any cases of this type and other legal services they provide. They went above and beyond!
    - Phillip J.
    "So thankful for your expertise and professionalism"
    Mrs. Gonzalez did an awesome job of explaining everything in detail and keeping me informed on the status of my case. Despite poor customer service with the insurance company, Mrs. Gonzalez was able to fix what they could not. Mrs. Gonzalez was very helpful with helping me understand things that I was not aware of when dealing with insurance claims. I am so thankful for her expertise and professionalism.
    - Mario H.
    "Always ready to answer any questions I may have"
    The staff kept me well informed in a more than timely manner and was always ready to answer any questions I may have.
    - Timothy M.
    "The Lanier Law Group provided excellent customer service!"
    The Lanier Law Group provided excellent customer service! My main contact was Denise.
    - Malinda P.
    "Great experience"
    Great experience. Tish was very helpful as my case progressed and explained all of the steps to me, leaving me with very few questions. Shea was also very helpful during the negotiation process.
    - Nyesha B.

Don't Hire Just Any Firm

Take Control of Your Case Today With the Help of Lanier Law Group
  • We Never Back Down
    Our attorneys are confident taking cases to trial and will always seek to maximize your compensation.
  • We're Here For You 24/7
    Regardless of when you contact our firm, we're here to make sure that you get the answers you need. We also offer weekend appointments and consultations.
  • We're In Your Corner
    Every case we take on has a team of dedicated professionals assigned to make sure that we're delivering the best possible service and results.
  • We Come Prepared

    After an injury, every second counts. We are available to meet with you in person, virtually, or at your location to provide the highest quality legal counsel.