Why Choose Us

The Burden of Grief Is Real – You Need Help

At Leverty & Associates, our entire team, led by Patrick Leverty, is dedicated to supporting our clients through difficult times. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay up-front to engage our services. With over 50 years of experience, you can feel confident you are in good hands when you come to us for assistance with your wrongful death lawsuit. Our team has the resources and expertise to help you achieve the desired outcome for your case.

We understand how devastating it can be to lose a loved one because of the Negligence or Wrongful Act of another person. The first step in preparing for your future is to get in touch with our legal team who will investigate your situation and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

When it comes to wrongful death cases, we have an in-depth understanding of the law and decades of experience that we can leverage on your behalf. Dealing with your loss can be overwhelming – the added burden of legal action can simply be too much for you to handle.  This is where we come in.  You don’t have to manage this process alone. We will help you hold the responsible party liable and receive the compensation you deserve. Our legal team is ready to go to work for you today.

How Our Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help

Our Team Handles Everything from Start to Finish

Wrongful death results in extraordinary grief; in the aftermath, life often seems unmanageable. In the face of personal devastation, you must learn to move forward without your loved one’s presence.  While filing a wrongful death lawsuit may seem like the right thing to do – it can be incredibly intimidating.  The laws in Nevada are complicated and the legal process is time-consuming. This is not a road to be traveled alone.

At Leverty & Associates, our wrongful death attorneys are just the companions you need. We will manage the entire legal process allowing you to focus on your family.  Our team

• Coordinates all investigations of your loved one’s death, including gathering evidence to help prove negligence.
• Identifies and interviews witnesses.
• Serves as your representative with insurance companies and attorneys.
• Calculates all of your losses: past, current, and future.
• Leverages expert witness testimony regarding accident fault and financial loss.
• Files all paperwork with courts.
• Oversees the entire legal process.
• Negotiates a settlement on your behalf.
• Litigates your case if it goes to court.

Our team brings compassion, commitment, and dedication to all our clients. We believe that those guilty of negligence should be held responsible and we work tirelessly to that end. That said, we recognize that each case is unique; we take the time to understand the intricacies of yours – often the smallest details prove to be the most important.

We Understand Wrongful Death Cases

Common Examples of Wrongful Death Cases

Any time someone is involved in a serious accident, injuries and death are possible. In order to recover compensation for a wrongful death situation, it’s necessary for your wrongful death lawyer to prove that the negligence of one or more parties resulted in the passing of your loved one.

Our team has experience in a broad range of accidents that can result in wrongful death including:

• Car, truck, or Motorcycle Accidents
• Negligent security, trip, and fall, slip and fall, and other premises liability situations
• Dog bites
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Accidents that involve railroads or trains
• Bicycle Accidents
• Boating accidents
• Airplane accidents.

It’s worth noting that this list is not comprehensive. If you have lost a loved one due to the misconduct or carelessness of another individual or organization, contact our experienced wrongful death lawyers in Reno right away. We will protect your rights and work to help you recover compensation.

Wrongful Death Claim Compensation

According to Nevada Law, a deceased person’s spouse or children are legally allowed to pursue compensation after a loved one passes away in a wrongful death situation. If the deceased did not have children or a spouse, then their parents may be able to file a claim for damages.

Wrongful death results in a host of unexpected expenses. That said, the compensation that you can receive in a wrongful death lawsuit depends upon the specific circumstances of your case. Usually, you will be able to recover the following:

• Medical costs to care for your loved one before they passed away.
• Loss of income (expected and actual) and any employment-related benefits.
• Expenses for funeral services and body arrangements.
• The loss of a relationship with the family member, such as a loss of consortium (for spouses) or the loss of affection and care (in a child-parent situation).

It may also be possible to recover Punitive Damages. The goal of punitive damages is not to provide you with compensation for your losses arising from the wrongful death of a loved one; instead, they are designed to serve as a punishment for malicious or outrageous actions and to discourage others in a similar position from doing the same thing that the defendant did in your situation.

In the state of Nevada, the award of punitive damages does have caps.

To explain, if you receive an award of $100,000 for the lawsuit, then the punitive damages that you can receive are limited to three times the amount awarded. In situations where compensation is under $100,000, you can receive punitive damages of up to $300,000.

There are some exemptions in place regarding caps on punitive damages. For example, if a driver drinks or does drugs and drives and then causes the death of someone, you may be able to receive punitive damages beyond the $300,000 limit mentioned above.

The award of punitive damages in a wrongful death case is discretionary. If you believe that your case may be eligible for these damages, you should discuss it with your Reno wrongful death attorney.

Proving Liability in Wrongful Death Cases

Proving negligence is critical in wrongful death cases. To positively affect this, you should work with wrongful death attorneys when it comes to establishing liability for your situation. You must prove that the victim (your deceased loved one) was owed a duty of care and that the duty was breached in some way.

For example, if a property owner did not resolve a hazard, or if a driver was texting while driving, which compromised their ability to drive safely and protect others on the road, and someone was killed, negligence would exist.

Because every wrongful death case is unique, the approach to each case will vary.  When you hire our wrongful death attorneys, we will investigate the situation, gather evidence, and work to prove liability, while always keeping you apprised of our progress. In addition, we are always available to answer your questions.  Once we complete our investigation, our team can help you file the claim against the at-fault party.

FAQs

Our Reno Wrongful Death Address Your Most Pressing Concerns

It is not surprising that those who are considering filing a wrongful death case have a lot of questions. The law is complicated, and the process is confusing. Below our team has shared some of the questions most often raised, along with our responses.

How are wrongful death claims different from criminal trials?

Wrongful death claims are civil actions filed by the family members or the estate of the decedent to receive compensation for their death. On the other hand, cases of homicide are considered criminal charges and are filed by the state. Wrongful death actions require a lower standard of proof.  You can file a wrongful death claim against someone who is also facing criminal charges for the death of an individual.

How do wrongful death and survival actions differ?

Wrongful death actions seek to recover compensation for family members because of damages they have experienced as a result of their loved one’s death. Survival actions focus on the damages that occurred to a decedent prior to their passing. While survival action and wrongful death claims are usually handled separately, they can also be combined into a single action.

What type of damages can be awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit?

Damages for a wrongful death lawsuit can be monetary losses and non-monetary losses. They may include burial and funeral costs, loss of love, guidance, support, companionship,

lost wages from the deceased individual, and medical costs related to necessary treatment. Our wrongful death lawyers can help you identify these losses.

Who can legally file a wrongful death claim in the state of Nevada?

State law determines who is legally allowed to file a wrongful death claim in Nevada. The individuals who are legally allowed to make this claim include the estate’s personal representative, the surviving spouse of the individual, their domestic partner, or child, or the parents of the individual if there is no spouse, children, or domestic partner. In some cases, other dependents may be eligible to file; a wrongful death lawyer can evaluate if you fit the criteria.

How long will it take to settle a wrongful death lawsuit?

Timing varies due to case complexity. If the party that is accused of causing the death does not accept responsibility, or if their insurance provider is not offering a fair amount of compensation, a wrongful death lawsuit may take a few years to resolve while more straightforward cases may be settled within a year.

We hope the information above has proven to be helpful.  For answers more specific to your personal situation, contact our Reno wrongful death attorneys at (775) 322-6636.  Time is of the essence as wrongful death cases must be filed within the statute of limitations.

Testimonials

The legal team at Leverty & Associates handled my case with compassion and professionalism. I appreciate the time, work, and dedication they put into helping me recover compensation for the loss of my husband.

I appreciate all the time the legal team put into my case. They kept me updated about the progress and any changes that were happening. This legal team is highly recommended by me.

Let Us Help with Your Wrongful Death Claim

Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Are Ready to Go to Work for You

The loss of your loved one due to wrongful death is incomprehensible and moving forward without them seems impossible.  There are so many things to do – chances are you don’t even know where to begin. And, with good reason.

Wrongful death cases are complex – the knowledge and experience necessary to handle them successfully is considerable.  At Leverty & Associates, we know what needs to be done, and we know how to do it.  We also recognize that this is an extremely difficult time for you.

Our team will communicate clearly and compassionately, helping you to understand both the laws at hand and how they will affect your situation. We have the resources, expertise, and ability to positively impact your case and we stand ready to help you move forward and prepare for your future.

Contact Us Today

If your loved one has lost their life through the negligence or wrongful act of another person or entity, we can help.  Please, do not hesitate to speak with us. Time is a valuable commodity.  The sooner we can begin investigating the more likely we are to uncover valuable evidence.

The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death case in Nevada is two years from the date of death.

Cases submitted after this time will not be heard. Reach out to us immediately at (775) 322-6636 to schedule a free initial consultation. During this meeting, we will learn the facts of your case and determine the best avenue for you to obtain the compensation you deserve.