When you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, Schiff & Associates is here to help you seek justice. Our experienced Columbus wrongful death attorneys understand the devastating impact of losing a family member and will fight tirelessly to hold responsible parties accountable while securing the compensation your family deserves. Since 1983, our team of seasoned attorneys has secured millions in compensation for families who have lost loved ones due to negligence and wrongful acts, including a $6 million wrongful death case.
Why Choose Schiff & Associates
as Your Wrongful Death Attorney in Columbus
“In wrongful death cases, we encourage people to call even if they think they don’t have a case. There are cases where our clients didn’t realize they actually had a case before calling us, but they were very surprised when we were ultimately able to make a recovery for them.”
– Attorney Craig T. Smith
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Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
Our Columbus wrongful death lawyers handle all types of death cases resulting from negligence, including:
- Auto accident fatalities
- Truck accident deaths
- Motorcycle accident fatalities
- Medical malpractice resulting in death
- Product malfunction deaths (such as defective rides or equipment)
- Workplace injury fatalities through our workers’ compensation department
- Animal attack deaths
- Slip and fall accidents resulting in death
- Any other accident where negligence caused the loss of life
Frequently Asked Questions
About Wrongful Death Representation
We encourage people to call anytime there’s a death, and then we can analyze the circumstances. There are cases where our clients didn’t realize they actually had a case before calling us. We encourage people to call even if they think they don’t have a case, as long as there’s been a death that may have been caused by someone else’s negligence.
Generally it’s two years, but it could be a shorter time frame depending on the circumstances. You should contact our office as soon as possible upon the death of your loved one.
The more severe the case, the longer it could potentially take. Death cases can be more complex than personal injury cases, as there are more steps to go through to make sure the claims are preserved. We will let you know what to expect during your free consultation.
It’s important to contact us immediately to get the estate open as soon as possible. Sometimes it can be a rush to the courthouse to get the estate open, and there can be other parties that may decide to try to open an estate, which can preclude our potential client from pursuing and handling that claim. Most people want to be involved in the decision making, so it’s important to contact us as soon as possible.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02(B), compensatory damages may be awarded including loss of support from the deceased’s expected earning capacity, loss of services, loss of society (companionship, consortium, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance, counsel, instruction, training and education), loss of prospective inheritance, and mental anguish incurred by surviving spouse, dependent children, parents or next of kin. We can also recover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering of the injured party before death occurred.
The estate serves as the legal entity that pursues wrongful death claims. Once recovery is made, the probate court allocates the recovery to the various beneficiaries. This can be determined based on Ohio state statute if there’s no will (called the intestacy statute), or based on the will if one exists.
Yes, we’ve handled cases where the deceased had no next of kin. We can set up an estate, make a recovery, and in unusual circumstances, the court may authorize the release of funds to close friends or others who were impacted by the loss.
Seeking Justice for Columbus Families Against Negligent Parties Statewide
While our main focus is serving Columbus and the surrounding communities, Schiff & Associates represents wrongful death victims’ families throughout Ohio. As a Columbus-based firm, we understand the local courts, legal procedures, and community values essential for handling these deeply personal cases.
Don’t wait to protect your family’s legal rights after losing a loved one. Contact our Columbus wrongful death attorneys today at 614-621-8888 for your free consultation and let us fight for the justice and compensation your family deserves.
Ready To
Discuss Your Case?
Our team is here to provide clear advice. Your primary contacts, Zach and Josh are committed to trusting our guidance to get you the best outcome.