Making final arrangements for your loved one is a costly and stressful experience. When they passed away because of a tragic accident, you might be dealing with the emotions that come with a sudden loss while you’re trying to make those arrangements.
While you’re going through this, you might realize that you’re enraged about what happened. Try not to let your anger stop you from mourning your loved one’s death. You do have a legal option to try to get closure for what happened, but you may need to get through the funeral before you do this.
What should you know about planning an unexpected funeral?
If you’re the one who has to plan the funeral, there are some specific points that you must remember about this duty. You can expect to spend around $6,000 to $7,000 if you opt for cremation or $7,000 to $12,000 if you choose a traditional funeral.
The Funeral Rule of 1984 offers you some protections as you make these arrangements. Funeral homes shouldn’t try to pressure you into buying things you don’t want, and that act prohibits them from preying on people who are mourning. One part of the act requires that they provide you with pricing information over the phone. This can be beneficial so that you can handle this part of the planning process from the comfort of your home as you grieve.
What if the accident was due to negligence or an intentional act by someone else?
The person’s next of kin may opt to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a way to try to recover the financial damages due to the untimely death. Since your loved one was a human, you can take this action in civil court if you can tie the death to the negligence of another party and if you can show that the death led to the financial damages.
If you decide that you’re going to file a wrongful death claim against the parties that can be held liable for your loved one’s death, you should do so as quickly as possible. There are time limits for filing these cases. You won’t have any options if you allow your time to expire.
