Gathering Evidence in Thornton Wrongful Death Cases
If you suddenly lost your loved one in an accident or criminal attack, you might be unsure of who to turn to for help. Our dedicated legal team is here to help you secure a financially sound future and hold the at-fault party accountable for the loss of your loved one.
An important aspect of this legal process is gathering evidence in Thornton wrongful death cases. An experienced lawyer could collect evidence for your case and use it to establish the negligence of the at-fault party.
Critical Time Constraints
It is critical to reach out for legal assistance as soon as possible after a wrongful death so that an attorney can begin their investigation promptly. Generally, Colorado law only gives surviving family members two years after the date of a loved one’s death to file suit.
Attorneys should meet with potential eyewitnesses as quickly as they can after an accident. As time passes, people’s memories of how events occurred are not always clear. They forget faces, so their identifications may be less conclusive. People also forget the order of how things happened, and their stories might not stay the same, making it harder for a court to know what truly happened. People also can move away and be hard to locate. It is not as easy to track down a witness after a lot of time has passed.
In addition to meeting promptly with witnesses, local attorneys should also begin searching for other evidence quickly. Critical evidence can become lost or misplaced. Some defendants might try to hide their blame by getting rid of the incriminating evidence. For example, after a hit-and-run car crash, an at-fault driver might take their car to an autobody shop to get painted.
How a Thornton Wrongful Death Attorney Gathers the Right Evidence
If a family suspects that another person’s actions played a role in their loved one’s death, they should reach out to a Thornton attorney as soon as possible to give them time to collect the necessary evidence.
Interviewing Witnesses
An attorney could meet with all available witnesses who observed the accident. In many cases, they might also meet with people familiar with the defendant to see if they noticed anything peculiar about their behavior leading up to the accident. A seasoned attorney knows the right kind of questions to ask to find the most helpful answers.
Working with Experts
Sometimes, information is too technical for a layperson to understand. A Thornton wrongful death attorney could take the lead on consulting with industry experts. In the case of a car collision, they could talk to accident reconstruction experts to get a better idea of how and why the collision occurred. If a defective product caused the death, the attorneys could meet with product design experts to see if the product’s manufacturer made critical design or manufacturing errors. They could also meet with human factors engineering experts to learn what happened.
In the case of a fatal workplace accident, an attorney could consult with OSHA experts or construction site experts to see if the employer was taking reasonable safety precautions to protect their employees. If a medical error occurred, a lawyer could consult with medical specialists to learn if the error rose to the level of actionable medical malpractice.
Let a Thornton Wrongful Death Attorney Take the Lead on Gathering Evidence for Your Claim
After your loved one’s sudden loss, in addition to dealing with your grief, you might be suddenly burdened with bills and costs from their passing. You do not have to take on this financial burden alone– a committed attorney could help you understand your compensation options and work with you to move forward with your claim.
Our team has experience gathering evidence in Thornton wrongful death cases and knows where to look to locate critical evidence to support your case. Reach out to our office today to get started.
