Death of a loved one, under any circumstance, can be devastating. When a loved one dies due to negligence by another party, like a health care provider or a reckless motorist, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation following this loss. All they need to do is file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.
However, in order to win your wrongful death claim and receive the compensation you deserve, you will be required to fulfill certain key requirements, such as providing crucial evidence to prove your case. Here are important documents that you will need to provide during your wrongful death lawsuit.
The deceased’s medical records
You will be required to provide copies of the deceased’s medical records as well as an autopsy report indicating that the injury or illness that caused death occurred as a result of the defendant’s negligent actions. It is not unusual for some defendants, like hospitals to attempt to interfere with the medical records with the goal of shifting blame to natural causes. However, with the medical records and an authentic autopsy report, you can note the specific wrongdoings that you believe resulted in your loved one’s death and use them to strengthen your case.
Police report as well as the death certificate
The death certificate is a crucial document in a wrongful death lawsuit because it indicates the exact cause of death. It is also verified by the coroner. If your loved one died as a result of a car accident, there is a pretty good chance that the police visited the accident scene, investigated the accident and compiled a report. You can obtain a copy of this report and use it in court to prove your wrongful death case.
Proof of connection between the deceased and the plaintiff
In a wrongful death lawsuit, the court requires the plaintiff to prove a connection to the deceased. Arizona law specifies who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Additionally, the plaintiff must prove that a relationship existed between the deceased and the defendant. This will show that the defendant owed the deceased some duty of care.
Taking legal action while grieving the death of a loved one can be difficult. However, to win a wrongful death claim, you must provide sufficient evidence to prove your case.
