If you've lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, a wrongful death lawyer can help you seek legal and financial restitution.

Here are some of the ways that a wrongful death lawyer can help you when a drunk driver takes the life of a loved one.

Legal Leverage

Most drunk driving accidents involve both criminal and civil lawsuits. Although a wrongful death lawyer will not handle the criminal side of the case, they can leverage the evidence and results of the criminal case to improve your legal position.

Depositions

Before testifying in court, legal dispositions allow lawyers to work through eyewitness accounts to build their cases. If you're the next of kin to the victim of a drunk driving accident, you will likely be disposed to provide background information. These dispositions can be extensive, exhaustive, and intimidating. One of the benefits of hiring a wrongful death lawyer to represent your family in a drunk driving accident is the legal counsel they can provide during the deposition phase of the case. Not only will they explain the process, but they can also advise you about how to answer difficult questions. For many families, having a legal team to support them through the criminal and civil phases of a drunk driving case can be invaluable.

Discovery

Another benefit of hiring a wrongful death lawyer is getting help with the discovery process. During discovery, lawyers from both sides will seek and share evidence. This evidence is submitted to the court before it can used in a trial. Because the liability in drunk driving accidents is rarely in question, the discovery part of the criminal case is designed to build and negotiate the plea bargain. Allowing a wrongful death lawyer to have access to evidence gives them the chance to build their case so that it can be filed immediately after the criminal case is resolved.

Proactive Settlements

Drunk driving accidents often result in plea bargains and settlements with insurance providers. Your wrongful death lawyer can advocate for maximum payments that exceed policy limits.

Future Earnings

Because the drunk driver took your loved one's life, they also took their future potential earnings. When an insurance provider offers you a settlement, their offer should consider the financial impact your family suffered. Your wrongful death lawyer can negotiate for a settlement that includes all that your family lost when the accident occurred. Providing your wrongful death lawyer with access to your financial records, tax returns, and employment documents can be instrumental in commanding the largest settlements possible.

Contact a wrongful death lawyer for more information.