Cleveland Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one is an unimaginably difficult experience, especially when their death is the result of someone else's negligence or misconduct.

At Crandall & Pera Law, we understand families' grief and upheaval after such a tragedy. Our wrongful death attorneys in Cleveland have over 40 years of combined experience. They are committed to providing the support and guidance you need during this challenging time, helping you seek justice and compensation for your loss.

 

Why Choose Our Cleveland Wrongful Death Lawyers?

Team of Cleveland Wrongful Death Attorneys at Crandall & Pera

When you entrust Crandall & Pera Law with your wrongful death claim, you choose a team with a distinguished reputation across Ohio and Kentucky for our dedication to clients and outstanding legal achievements.

Our lead attorneys, Steve Crandall and Marc Pera, along with our talented legal team, have been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for our commitment to excellence, including:

  • Super Lawyers® Recognition: Attorneys receive this accolade for achieving skilled professional recognition and acknowledgment from their peers. The selection involves a rigorous, multiphase process, including peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research.
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Listing in this directory is a significant honor, reflecting peer recognition for professionalism, integrity, and skills.
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum® Membership: This exclusive group consists of trial lawyers who have secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, showcasing our ability to achieve significant client outcomes.

Understanding the Opposition

Our unique insight comes from years of experience as former insurance and healthcare defense attorneys. This background provides us with a strategic edge, enabling us to anticipate and effectively counter the tactics used by the opposition, strengthening your claim.

Noteworthy Case Results

Our firm's track record of success is a testament to our commitment and skilled legal knowledge. The significant settlements and verdicts we've achieved on behalf of our clients underscore our dedication and ability to secure substantial outcomes in even the most challenging cases.

Here are some of the notable accomplishments that exemplify our firm's prowess:

  • $4.7 Million Settlement: Secured for a motorcyclist severely paralyzed due to a collision with a distracted driver, highlighting our commitment to victims of negligent driving.
  • Landmark $20.5 Million Settlement: Achieved in a construction site accident, marking one of the largest settlements in Ohio's legal history and underscoring our experience handling complex workplace injury cases.
  • $5.5 Million Settlement: Obtained for a woman who sustained a traumatic brain injury after being struck by an 18-wheeler, showcasing our ability to advocate for victims of catastrophic traffic accidents.
  • $2.35 Million Settlement: Awarded to a man who suffered a broken back and brain injury after falling from an improperly installed ladder, demonstrating our skill in premises liability claims.
  • $1.25 Million Settlement: In a product liability case for a young woman's death caused by a defective product, reflecting our firm's proficiency in holding manufacturers accountable for their products.

These case results reflect our firm's dedication to justice and our ability to achieve outstanding client results.

Our Locations

To best serve our clients in Cleveland, Crandall & Pera Law strategically positions itself for accessibility and convenience. Our office strategically situates itself to facilitate comfortable and private discussions about your case:

850 Euclid Ave #1122,

Cleveland, OH 44114

Our Cleveland office centrally positions itself near the Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters to efficiently serve our clients throughout the area, offering a convenient meeting spot for those seeking legal representation in wrongful death cases.

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Wrongful Death Compensation

Cleveland Wrongful Death Lawyer

The aftermath of a wrongful death is both emotionally and financially taxing. Our attorneys are committed to ensuring that any settlement or verdict comprehensively addresses the full scope of your losses.

Compensation in wrongful death cases may include:

Medical Expenses

When a loved one passes away due to wrongful death, the financial burden of medical expenses can be astronomical. These costs include all medical treatments received before the death, such as emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and any other medical interventions attempted to save or extend the deceased's life.

These expenses are components of the compensation we seek, ensuring that families do not bear the financial burden of these final medical efforts.

Funeral and Burial Costs

The costs associated with funeral services and burial can add considerable financial strain during a period of profound grief.

Compensation for wrongful death claims includes coverage for these expenses, ensuring that families can arrange a dignified funeral and burial for their loved one without the added stress of financial hardship. This compensation covers all aspects of the funeral and burial process, including but not limited to the service, casket, transportation, and cemetery costs, allowing families to focus on their grieving and healing process.

Loss of Income and Support

The impact of losing a loved one extends beyond emotional distress; it also encompasses the loss of financial support they might have provided.

Compensation for loss of income and support considers the deceased's expected earnings over their lifetime, including salaries, benefits, and other financial contributions to the family.

This aspect of compensation addresses the economic void left by the deceased, ensuring that the family's financial stability is maintained and they continue to have the support necessary for their livelihood.

Pain and Suffering

The emotional distress and suffering experienced by the deceased before their death are profound and deserving of recognition in wrongful death claims.

Compensation for pain and suffering aims to acknowledge the emotional and physical agony endured by the deceased as a result of their injuries.

This compensation is not only a recognition of the pain suffered by the deceased but also serves as a punitive measure against the negligence that led to their untimely death, reinforcing the seriousness of the loss and the emotional toll it takes on the surviving family members.

Loss of Consortium

The loss of a loved one affects the very fabric of a family, leading to a profound loss of love, companionship, and support. Loss of consortium compensation acknowledges the emotional impact on the deceased's spouse, children, or other close family members.

This type of compensation addresses the intangible elements of the relationship lost due to wrongful death, such as affection, emotional support, companionship, and the overall presence and guidance the deceased will have provided. It serves as a recognition of the irreplaceable void left in the lives of those closest to the deceased.

In handling these cases, we comprehensively evaluate each aspect of your loss, consulting with financial analysts and other professionals to ensure a thorough consideration of all current and future impacts.

Where Can Wrongful Deaths Occur in Cleveland?

Super Lawyers Top 5 Cleveland Badge

Wrongful deaths in Cleveland can tragically occur in many locations across the city, amplified by its dynamic urban environment and intricate traffic networks.

Locations such as the bustling Public Square and the heavily trafficked West Side Market area are notable for their dense pedestrian and vehicle interactions, increasing the potential for accidents.

Industrial zones, such as those found along the Cuyahoga River, harbor risks due to the heavy machinery and complex operations, where oversight or negligence can lead to fatal incidents.

Additionally, the rapid pace and high traffic volume on highways like the I-90 Innerbelt and the I-480 corridor present significant dangers, with high-speed collisions often resulting in severe consequences.

Public spaces, including popular parks like Edgewater Park and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, though generally safe, can become sites of wrongful death due to poorly maintained facilities or inadequate safety measures.

Practice Area: Wrongful Death Representation

Marc Pera and Steve Crandall

At Crandall & Pera Law, we handle a broad spectrum of wrongful death cases, each with unique circumstances and legal issues. Our practice areas include, but are not limited to:

Vehicle Accidents

Vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of wrongful death in the US. These tragic incidents can involve cars, trucks, motorcycles, and pedestrians and often result from reckless driving, speeding, driving under the influence, or failure to obey traffic laws.

The impact of these accidents extends beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting families and communities.

Our firm is committed to investigating these cases thoroughly, utilizing accident reconstructionists, and advocating for the rights of those lost to ensure their families receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Workplace Incidents

Workplace incidents leading to fatal outcomes can occur across various settings, including industrial sites, construction areas, and office environments. These incidents may stem from unsafe work practices, inadequate safety protocols, equipment malfunctions, or exposure to hazardous materials.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is a serious area of concern when it comes to wrongful death. These cases arise from surgical errors, misdiagnoses, treatment failures, or negligence in patient care. The trust placed in healthcare professionals is profound, and their failure to provide the standard of care expected can lead to devastating consequences.

Pursuing a wrongful death claim in the context of medical malpractice requires an understanding of medical procedures, standards of care, and the legal framework surrounding healthcare. Our attorneys work closely with medical professionals to uncover the truth and fight for the compensation and justice owed to the victims and their families.

Product Liability

Product liability cases can involve various items, from automotive parts and medical devices to household products and children's toys. These cases often reveal systemic product design, manufacturing, or labeling issues that pose serious consumer risks.

Our firm investigates these cases, challenging powerful corporations and advocating for the rights of individuals and families affected by such negligence. We are committed to ensuring that those responsible for introducing unsafe products into the marketplace are held accountable and that families receive the compensation they need to move forward after a tragic loss.

Fighting the Insurance Company After a Cleveland Wrongful Death

Fighting the Insurance Company After a Cleveland Wrongful Death

Insurers have employed various strategies to minimize their financial liability after a wrongful death incident. These tactics can significantly impede the bereaved family's quest for fair compensation.

Our Cleveland wrongful death attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience in handling these challenges and are committed to advocating for the rights and entitlements of our clients.

Here's a closer look at how insurance companies might try to deny or devalue wrongful death claims and how we counteract these maneuvers:

Delaying the Claims Process

One common strategy insurance companies employ is delaying the claims process deliberately. By dragging out the proceedings, insurers hope that claimants will grow impatient or desperate, potentially leading them to accept lower settlement offers. This tactic exploits the financial and emotional vulnerability of families grieving a loss, adding to their distress.

Disputing the Severity and Cause

Insurers might challenge the claim by disputing the severity of the incident or the cause of death. They may argue that the incident in question did not cause the wrongful death or that other factors contributed to the death to reduce their liability or dismiss the claim altogether.

Offering Quick, Low Settlements

Shortly after a wrongful death, insurance companies might approach families with quick settlement offers. These initial offers are often significantly lower than the claim is worth.

Insurers capitalize on the family's immediate need for financial support and their lack of familiarity with the legal process, hoping to settle claims quickly and inexpensively.

Misinterpreting Policy Language

Insurance companies may attempt to deny claims by misinterpreting their policies' language or coverage limits. This can involve claiming that the policy does not cover certain circumstances surrounding the wrongful death, thereby attempting to avoid payout responsibilities.

Requiring Excessive Documentation

While some documentation is necessary to process a claim, insurers may demand excessive proof of the wrongful death and related expenses. This overbearing request for documentation can serve as a tactic to find inconsistencies or reasons to reduce the claim's value or deny it altogether.

How We Fight Back

Preeminent Award 2021

Our approach to combating these tactics involves a multi-faceted strategy designed to uphold our client's rights and ensure they receive the full compensation they deserve.

This includes:

  • Comprehensive Evidence Gathering: We collect all necessary evidence, including medical records, accident reports, and witness statements, to build a strong case that establishes the cause and impact of the wrongful death.
  • Professional Consultations: Our team consults with medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, and financial analysts to provide authoritative insights into the circumstances of wrongful death and its financial impact on the family.
  • Strategic Negotiations: Armed with evidence and professional opinions, we negotiate with insurers, prepared to counteract their attempts to minimize the claim's value.
  • Vigorous Legal Advocacy: If negotiations do not result in a fair settlement, we are fully prepared to take the case to court, where we will advocate passionately on behalf of the deceased's family, seeking justice and the compensation they rightfully deserve.

Dealing with a wrongful death is incredibly challenging, but families do not have to face it alone. With experienced legal representation, the journey toward justice and fair compensation can be less burdensome, allowing families to focus on healing and remembrance.

What to Do After a Wrongful Death

Following a wrongful death, seek legal advice immediately. Gathering evidence, documenting expenses, and keeping records of everything related to the incident will strengthen your claim. At Crandall & Pera Law, we guide you through every step, ensuring your rights are protected.

Contact a Cleveland Wrongful Death Lawyer at Crandall & Pera Law

Marc Pera
Cleveland Wrongful Death Attorney, Marc Pera

Choosing Crandall & Pera Law means partnering with a deeply committed team to your cause. We offer empathetic, knowledgeable representation, guiding you through the legal process while you focus on healing. Contact our Cleveland personal injury lawyers at (216) 220-0000 to learn how we can aid you in seeking justice and compensation during this difficult time.