When a preventable death takes someone from your family, you may be left with grief, medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, and serious questions about what happened.
At Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers, we have helped injured people and grieving families across the Carolinas since 1995. Our High Point wrongful death lawyers can help you understand what compensation may be available while protecting your family’s rights.
Contact our High Point personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation. Under our A&A Zero Fee Guarantee™, you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
What a Wrongful Death Claim Means
A wrongful death claim is a civil claim brought when a person dies because of another party’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful conduct. The claim seeks financial recovery for the losses connected to that death.
This type of claim is separate from any criminal case. A family may still have a civil claim even if no one is charged with a crime or a criminal case does not lead to a conviction.
When we handle a wrongful death claim, we focus on three main questions:
- What caused the fatal injury?
- Who may be legally responsible?
- What losses has the family suffered under North Carolina law?
Our legal team can gather records, identify all liable parties, and deal with the insurance company or defense lawyers for your family.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate generally files the wrongful death lawsuit. This may be the executor named in a will. If there is no will, the court may appoint someone to serve in that role.
Although the personal representative files the claim, any recovery is usually for the benefit of the people allowed to receive damages under North Carolina law. Depending on the family situation, that may include a spouse, children, parents, or other eligible heirs.
If you are unsure who should file, our High Point wrongful death attorneys can review the estate situation and explain the next steps. We can also help your family understand how the wrongful death claim and estate process work together.
Damages Families May Recover in a Wrongful Death Case
A wrongful death claim cannot replace the person your family lost. It can, however, seek financial recovery for the losses North Carolina law allows after a fatal injury.
Depending on the facts, a wrongful death claim may include compensation for:
- Medical care related to the final injury.
- Hospital treatment before death.
- The pain and suffering your loved one experienced before death.
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- The income your loved one likely would have provided.
- The loss of services, care, help, and protection.
- The loss of society, companionship, comfort, guidance, and advice.
- Punitive damages in limited cases involving especially wrongful conduct.
We review both the financial losses and the personal losses your family has suffered. That may include pay records, tax records, medical bills, family responsibilities, household services, and the support your loved one provided.
In some cases, punitive damages may be available under North Carolina law. These damages are not meant only to repay a family for losses. They may apply when the conduct was especially wrongful, such as impaired driving or intentional harm.
How a High Point Wrongful Death Attorney Proves Liability
To pursue compensation, we must show that another party’s conduct caused the fatal injury. In a wrongful death case, that often means proving the other party had a duty to act with reasonable care, failed to do so, and caused losses that North Carolina law recognizes.
To do this, our team may use evidence such as:
- Crash reports.
- Medical records.
- Death certificate information.
- Witness statements.
- Photos or video footage.
- Vehicle data.
- Phone records, when available.
- Employment or company records.
- Maintenance records.
- Insurance records.
- Opinions from qualified professionals, when needed.
Insurance companies often dispute fault, the cause of death, or the value of the claim. We do not rely on assumptions. We build the claim with records, testimony, and clear proof that connects the wrongful conduct to your family’s loss.
North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule can also affect wrongful death claims. If the defense can prove your loved one was even 1% at fault, it may try to use that argument to prevent recovery. We address those blame arguments early and challenge them with evidence.
Why Choose Our High Point Wrongful Death Attorneys
Your family should be able to work with lawyers who explain the process clearly and treat your loss with care. Auger & Auger is a local, family-owned law firm with attorneys who bring an average of 19 years of personal injury experience to the cases we handle.
We have recovered over $100 million for our clients and have maintained a 99.5% success rate since opening our doors. Those results come from careful preparation, direct communication, and a clear focus on each client’s best interests.
Families choose our firm because we offer:
- Free consultations.
- Contingency fee representation.
- The A&A Zero Fee Guarantee™.
- Online document signing.
- Hospital visits when a client cannot come to us.
- Help finding medical care when needed.
- Personal attention from a family-owned firm.
If you’ve been searching for a High Point lawyer for wrongful death, turn to Auger & Auger. We know these claims aren’t only about money. They’re about accountability, answers, and financial security for the people left behind. We take that responsibility seriously.
Talk With Auger & Auger About Your Next Steps
If you are still looking for a wrongful death lawyer near me in High Point, Auger & Auger can give you clear answers. Contact our firm today to request a free consultation.
