Radcliff Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing someone because of another’s negligence leaves you facing emotional pain and immediate practical needs. We can help you pursue a wrongful death claim in Radcliff, protect your family’s financial future, and hold those responsible accountable. Contact us to start the process and preserve tight Kentucky deadlines.

We represent Central Kentucky families and handle fatal accident and wrongful death lawsuits so you can focus on grieving while we gather evidence, interview authorities, and manage negotiations. Our team at The Fleck Firm, PLLC guides the personal representative through filing rules, timelines, and possible recoveries, including medical and funeral costs, lost earning capacity, and survivor claims—call us now for a free case review.

When you need experienced wrongful death legal representation, we combine local knowledge with practical resources to pursue full compensation. Learn how we work and request an appointment online with our Radcliff personal injury lawyer.

Who Is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Radcliff?

We represent families after fatal injuries caused by another’s negligent act or omission. Kentucky law requires that only the personal representative bring the wrongful death action on behalf of the deceased’s beneficiaries.

Only the Personal Representative

The personal representative—named in a will or appointed by the court—files the claim for the estate. Even a surviving spouse, parent, or child cannot file individually; the representative acts for everyone entitled to recovery.

Who Receives the Proceeds?

Kentucky law sets an order for distributing damages. A surviving spouse receives all recovery if there are no children; if both spouse and children survive, the recovery is divided between them; children receive all if there is no spouse; parents inherit if no spouse or children exist; otherwise, the estate receives the funds.

We pursue compensation categories that reflect both monetary and non-monetary losses. The estate may recover medical bills incurred before death and reasonable funeral and burial expenses. Families may claim lost wages and future income to address the destruction of earning power.

We also seek damages for loss of companionship and loss of consortium through the appropriate claims for surviving family members. When conduct is particularly reckless, punitive damages may be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.

Statute of Limitations

Under Kentucky rules, the personal representative generally has one year from qualification to file a wrongful death lawsuit, with an outer limit of two years from the date of death. These deadlines are strict, so we advise contacting counsel promptly to preserve the right to pursue wrongful death damages.

Common Events That Lead to Wrongful Death in Radcliff

We see several types of incidents that most often result in death caused by negligence. These events regularly produce fatal injuries and lead surviving family members to pursue wrongful death damages through the estate or by the personal representative.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car crashes, drunk driving, and distracted drivers frequently cause fatal injuries. Compensation claims often include medical expenses before death, funeral and burial expenses, and lost wages and future income.

Commercial Trucking Accidents

Large-truck collisions can cause catastrophic trauma and multiple fatalities. Investigations examine driver logs, maintenance, and corporate policies to support claims for wrongful death compensation and punitive damages when the conduct was reckless.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Pedestrians and cyclists suffer severe, often fatal trauma when struck by vehicles. These cases typically involve proof of a wrongful act or omission and can yield damages for loss of companionship and emotional distress for surviving family members.

Workplace Accidents

Construction and industrial incidents can be deadly when safety measures fail. Although employees may have workers’ compensation remedies, third-party claims may allow the estate to recover additional wrongful death damages from responsible parties.

Medical Malpractice

When a health care provider’s negligent care leads to death, the estate and personal representative can pursue both survival action and wrongful death claims. Recoverable damages commonly include medical expenses before death, pain and suffering endured, and funeral costs.

We emphasize timely action because Kentucky’s statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is strict. The personal representative must file within the prescribed deadlines to preserve the family’s right to recover compensation.

Types of Damages Recoverable in Radcliff Wrongful Death Cases

We pursue financial relief that addresses both immediate bills and long-term needs after a fatal injury caused by another’s negligent act or omission. Recovery aims to make surviving family members and the estate whole where possible.

• Medical Expenses and Funeral Costs: We seek reimbursement for medical care the decedent received before death and reasonable funeral and burial expenses paid by the estate or family. These items often create urgent financial strain.
  
• Destruction of Earning Power: We claim compensation for the income and benefits the deceased would have provided over their expected working life. Calculations consider age, earnings history, job prospects, and expected career trajectory.
  
• Survival Action: When the injured person lived even briefly after the incident, the estate can pursue damages for the decedent’s pain and suffering during that period. This claim belongs to the estate and is separate from the wrongful death recovery.
  
• Loss of Companionship: We pursue damages for the emotional and relational harms survivors endure — such as loss of love, guidance, and household support — and for the surviving spouse’s loss of consortium. These are non-financial losses but carry significant weight in a claim.
  
• Punitive Damages: When the defendant’s conduct was especially reckless or intentional, we request punitive awards to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar behavior. These damages are separate from compensatory recovery.

We handle filing requirements and strict timing rules under Kentucky law, including the deadlines that apply to the personal representative when bringing a claim.

The Process for Pursuing a Wrongful Death Claim in Kentucky

We begin with a prompt, thorough fact-finding phase to determine liability and document how the death resulted from another’s negligent act or omission. This includes collecting police reports, medical records, witness statements, and any scene evidence related to fatal injuries.

We arrange for the estate’s personal representative to be appointed if not already named. The appointed representative is the only party who can bring the action on behalf of the surviving family members and the estate of the deceased.

We prepare and file the complaint within Kentucky’s strict time limits for wrongful death actions. The statute of limitations typically gives the personal representative one year from qualification, with a maximum two-year bar from the date of death in most cases.

We conduct formal discovery to gather proof supporting claims for wrongful death compensation. Discovery often includes depositions, requests for documents, important reports on lost wages and future income, and records of medical expenses before death and funeral and burial costs.

We engage in settlement talks aimed at securing damages for economic losses and non-economic harms. Recoverable items commonly include medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages and future income, loss of companionship or consortium, and emotional distress. Punitive damages may be sought when the conduct was especially reckless.

If settlement is not achievable, we take the case to trial to pursue full recovery for the surviving family members and the estate of the deceased. Trial may also resolve survival-action claims for pain and suffering the deceased endured before death.

Why Choose The Fleck Firm, PLLC for Your Radcliff Wrongful Death Case

Our team at The Fleck Firm, PLLC focuses on serving families in Radcliff and the surrounding communities. Our team has decades of experience handling fatal-accident matters in local courts, so we know how judges, clerks, and insurers typically operate.

We limit our caseload so we can give each family timely, direct attention. That means you speak with attorneys who understand the facts, not only support staff.

We combine careful investigation with practical litigation. Our attorneys recruit accident reconstruction professionals and medical reviewers when needed to document causation and losses thoroughly.

Our law firm pursues full recovery for immediate costs like medical and funeral bills as well as long-term losses such as lost income and benefits. We also press claims that may include punitive damages when the conduct warrants additional punishment. We at The Fleck Firm, PLLC handle cases on a contingency basis, so families pay nothing unless we obtain compensation. If you need to start the process quickly, contact us through our online form.