There are many times in life when you deserve a shoulder to lean on. In a wrongful death case, you deserve support not only from loved ones, but also from an attorney who can guide you through a difficult time and help get you needed legal relief.
Wondering, how can I find a wrongful death attorney near me? Or, who are the best wrongful death lawyers near me? Poulos & Coates might have your answer to both.
With more than 70 years of combined experience and award-winning advocacy for individuals seeking justice for their loved ones, we can lift you up and protect your rights in any wrongful death claim. Please read on and contact us today for a free case review.
What Happens in a Wrongful Death Claim?
In New Mexico, a wrongful death occurs when a person’s or entity’s wrongful act, default, or neglect causes someone’s death. To prove liability in a wrongful death case, the plaintiff might have to prove the following:
- The defendant owed a duty of care to a deceased person,
- The defendant breached their duty of care, and
- The defendant’s breach directly caused the deceased person’s death.
A defendant might be liable for a death that occurs during a car accident, the administration of sub-par health care, or another interaction.
The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate is responsible for bringing the claim on behalf of the surviving family members or beneficiaries.
Recoverable damages in a New Mexico wrongful death case include compensation for both economic and noneconomic losses that result from the death of a loved one.
The court may also award punitive damages if the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious. Damages in a wrongful death claim aim to provide financial relief and hold the responsible party accountable for the loss they caused.
How Do I Find the Best Wrongful Death Attorney Near Me?
Finding the wrongful death lawyer best suits your needs is a multi-step process. You will likely start with a long list of attorneys and shorten that list through different types of research.
This process does not have to be intimidating. Below, we go over five simple steps to locate the ideal attorney.
1. Ask Other Professionals Who Handled Matters Surrounding Your Loved One’s Death
With the passing of a loved one, you will likely encounter many professionals who help tie up loose ends related to the tragedy, including:
- Healthcare providers who cared for your loved one,
- Directors or employees of funeral homes,
- Probate attorneys,
- Coroners,
- Employees of financial institutions that held your loved one’s assets, and
- Benefits managers from your loved one’s employment.
Because of the work they do, these individuals have likely interacted with many wrongful death attorneys in the past. If you do not foresee one of the above-listed professionals being a party in your claim, you may ask them if they know an attorney who can help you.
2. Do an Internet Search
To supplement the list of attorneys you receive from other professionals, you may want to search for a Las Cruces wrongful death attorney by putting those words into the search bar of your favorite internet search engine.
You may find some of the same attorneys suggested by the professionals you know, as well as some new attorneys to add to your list. You will likely also see online reviews for the attorneys in your search. You can read through those reviews to see which attorneys best fulfill your needs.
3. Check the State Bar’s Website
When you click the “Find an Attorney” link on the State Bar of New Mexico web page, you can search for an attorney in many ways, including by location and practice areas.
The State Bar’s page does not have a separate practice category for wrongful death attorneys, but you can find many wrongful death attorneys in Las Cruces by searching for personal injury and litigation attorneys in Doña Ana County.
The search results for attorneys on the State Bar web page include information about whether each attorney you find is active and how long they have been licensed. This additional information can help you streamline your list of attorneys.
4. Check the Websites of the Attorneys You Like
At the end of the day, you are looking for one attorney out of many, so you need ways to narrow your search. Narrowing your search can include looking at the web pages of each attorney on your list.
On each attorney web page, you may see the following:
- The awards each attorney has won,
- The number of years of experience each attorney has,
- Testimonials from clients, and
- Blog articles regarding the specific types of cases each attorney covers.
Look for attorneys with many years of experience and testimonials reflecting the respect of their clients and communities.
5. Go to a Consultation
Going to a consultation with each attorney on your shortlist can be one of the best ways to find the right lawyer. During your appointment, you can gauge how well you communicate with each lawyer, a critical part of the attorney-client relationship.
Additionally, a consultation can help you understand how well each attorney understands your case and how to develop a strategy for your claim.
A consultation is also a good time to discuss each attorney’s fee structure and whether they can negotiate with you. There is good representation for everyone, no matter the budget.
You want to make sure that you can afford the attorney you choose. At Poulos & Coates, you don’t pay us unless we win.
Your Las Cruces Wrongful Death Attorney May Be at Poulos & Coates
Poulos & Coates is a premier medical malpractice law firm that handles wrongful death cases in New Mexico. We have won over $300 million for our clients and received top honors from the legal community for our work.
When dealing with a tragedy, you want tried and true counsel you can depend on, which is what we provide. Give us a call today or contact us online to schedule a consultation and find out what our team of experienced legal professionals can do for you.
Greig Coates, M.D., J.D.
Over the last thirty years, Dr. Coates has successfully represented plaintiffs in every conceivable type of medical malpractice lawsuit–from single-physician cases to complex litigation involving over a dozen doctors and several hospitals. Dr. Coates has taken several thousand physician depositions in his career involving every known physician specialty and sub-specialty, and almost as many depositions involving hospital personnel such as nurses, techs, and administrators. He has tried several dozen cases to successful verdicts.
Rate this Post
Loading...