Losing someone you love because of another person's carelessness is a pain unlike any other. At Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A., we see you, and we are here to listen. As Columbus wrongful death attorneys, we walk alongside Mississippi families during the hardest season of their lives, carrying the legal weight so you can focus on healing.
We understand that no settlement can bring your loved one back. What a wrongful death claim can do is provide the resources your family needs to move forward, to cover what was lost, and to hold the responsible party accountable. For more than 40 years, our team has stood with families across Mississippi, and we are ready to stand with yours.
Call us today at (662) 370-3002 for a free consultation.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Mississippi?
A wrongful death claim is a legal case brought when someone dies because of another person's negligence or wrongful act. In plain terms, it is a way for surviving family members to seek compensation when a death could have been prevented. Mississippi law, specifically Mississippi Code Section 11-7-13, sets out who may file and what may be recovered.
These claims arise from many different situations. A wrongful death can follow a car or truck crash, a workplace accident, a defective product, or an act of medical negligence or malpractice. What ties them together is a simple, painful fact: someone you love is gone, and someone else's actions played a role.
We approach every one of these cases with care, because we know there is a family behind the file. Our goal is to pursue justice and the financial security your family deserves, while treating you with the compassion this moment calls for.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Columbus?
In Mississippi, the right to file belongs to a specific group of people connected to the person who passed. The law gives priority to the closest surviving relatives, and our team helps you understand exactly where you stand. We make sure the right person brings the claim so the case starts on solid ground.
Mississippi law allows the following parties to pursue a wrongful death claim:
- The surviving spouse of the person who died
- The children of the person who died
- The parents of the person who died
- The siblings of the person who died
- The personal representative of the estate, acting on behalf of all beneficiaries
When more than one family member qualifies, the claim is generally brought as a single action so that any recovery can be shared fairly among those entitled to it. This structure prevents families from filing competing cases against one another. We help you sort through these details with patience, so your family can stay united during a difficult time.
What Compensation Can Families Recover?
Mississippi law allows surviving relatives to recover several forms of compensation, often called wrongful death damages. These are meant to address both the financial losses and the deep personal losses that follow a preventable death. The exact amount depends on the facts of your specific situation.
Families may be able to recover money for medical bills incurred before the passing, as well as funeral and burial expenses. Compensation can also cover the income and financial support the person would have provided to the family over time.
Beyond the dollars and cents, the law recognizes the human side of loss. Families may seek damages for the loss of companionship, guidance, and the love a person brought into their lives. In cases involving especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available to hold the wrongdoer accountable.
We want to be clear about something important. Pursuing these damages is not about putting a price on a life or getting even with anyone. It is about justice, and about securing the resources your family needs to rebuild a stable future.
How Long Do You Have to File in Mississippi?
You generally have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim in Mississippi. This window is called the statute of limitations, and it is one of the most important deadlines in your case. Missing it can mean losing the right to recover anything at all.
Three years may sound like plenty of time, yet the early days matter more than people expect. Evidence fades, witnesses move, and records can be harder to track down as months pass. The sooner we begin, the stronger the foundation we can build for your family.
Certain situations can shorten or change this deadline. Claims against government entities, for example, often involve much tighter notice requirements. We review the timeline that applies to your specific case, so nothing slips away while you grieve.
How Do You Prove a Wrongful Death Case?
To succeed in a wrongful death claim, we must show that another party's negligence caused your loved one's death. Negligence simply means that someone failed to act with reasonable care, and that this failure led directly to the loss. Building this proof takes careful, methodical work.
Our team handles the investigation from the ground up. We gather police reports, medical records, and witness statements, and when needed, we bring in professionals who can reconstruct what happened. In our decades of handling these cases across Mississippi, we have learned that strong cases are built on details, not assumptions.
Establishing a wrongful death claim generally involves four elements:
- Duty: The responsible party owed your loved one a duty of reasonable care.
- Breach: That party failed to meet the duty through action or inaction.
- Causation: The breach directly caused the death.
- Damages: Your family suffered measurable losses as a result.
Each element must be supported with clear evidence, which is why early action and thorough preparation make such a difference. We carry this burden so your family does not have to. From the first phone call, our focus is on protecting your interests and pursuing the accountability your loved one deserves.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Columbus
Wrongful death claims in our community grow out of a wide range of preventable events. Many begin on the roads that connect Columbus to the rest of the Golden Triangle, where a single careless driver can change everything. Others happen at work, at businesses, or in hospitals where safety should have come first.
Some of the most common situations our team handles include the following:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Pedestrian collisions where a loved one was hit by a vehicle
- Workplace and construction accidents
- Medical negligence
- Defective or dangerous products
No two cases look exactly alike, and we treat each one as the unique loss it is. Whatever the cause, our role is the same: to investigate fully, advocate fiercely, and stand beside your family every step of the way.
How a Columbus Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help
A wrongful death case touches both the legal system and your family's future, and trying to handle it alone during grief is a heavy thing to ask of anyone. Our Columbus wrongful death attorneys step in to manage every legal detail, so you can give your attention to the people who need you. We see our job as lifting that burden from your shoulders.
From the moment you reach out, we begin protecting your family's interests. We deal with the insurance companies, the paperwork, and the deadlines, while keeping you informed at every turn. You will never be left wondering what is happening with your case.
We also know that families have questions about cost during an already stressful time. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees up front. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you, so there is no financial risk in simply talking with us.
Why Choose a Columbus Wrongful Death Attorney at Richard Schwartz & Associates?
Our roots run deep in the communities we serve, including right here in Columbus and across the Golden Triangle. Attorneys and Practice Magazine has ranked our firm among the top personal injury firms in the state, and our team has recovered over $1 billion for the people we represent. That track record reflects years of dedicated, compassionate advocacy for Mississippi families.
When you choose us, you can expect honest, attentive representation built on integrity and respect. We lead with compassion and we pursue every case with relentless effort, because we believe your fight is our fight. Our care for you resides beyond the courtroom, and we treat clients like the neighbors and family members they are.
Here is what working with our team looks like:
- More than 40 years serving Mississippi families
- Free, no-obligation case evaluations
- A team available 24/7, whenever you need us
- No fees unless we recover compensation for you
- Local knowledge of Columbus and Lowndes County courts and communities
We would be honored to listen to your story and explain your options. If your family has suffered a loss because of someone else's negligence, reach out today and let us carry the legal weight while you focus on healing. Call (662) 370-3002 for your free consultation.
FAQs Answered by Our Trusted Columbus Wrongful Death Attorneys
Below are answers to questions families in Columbus often ask us after a sudden loss.
Is a wrongful death claim the same as a criminal case?
No, these are two separate matters. A criminal case is brought by the state to punish someone for breaking the law, while a wrongful death claim is a civil case your family brings to recover compensation. A person can face both at the same time, and the outcome of one does not control the other.
How much does it cost to hire a wrongful death lawyer?
We handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing up front. Our fee comes only as a percentage of the compensation we recover, which means there is no out-of-pocket cost to start your case. If we do not recover anything for you, you owe us no attorney fees.
What if my loved one was partly at fault?
Mississippi follows a rule called pure comparative negligence, which allows recovery even when the person who died shared some of the blame. The compensation may be reduced by their percentage of fault, but the claim is not automatically barred. We carefully review the facts to protect your family's recovery as much as possible.
How long does a wrongful death case take?
Every case moves at its own pace, depending on its complexity and whether it settles or goes to trial. Some claims resolve in a matter of months, while others take longer when the facts are heavily disputed. We keep your case moving and keep you updated, so you are never left in the dark.
Do we have to go to court?
Many wrongful death claims settle without a trial, often through negotiation with the insurance company. When a fair resolution cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to court and present it to a jury. We let the circumstances guide the strategy, and we always pursue the path that serves your family best.
Can we still file if some time has already passed?
Possibly, since the general deadline in Mississippi is three years from the date of death. The amount of time remaining depends on the date of your loss and the specifics of your case. The best step is to contact us soon, so we can review your timeline and act before any deadline arrives.
We Are Here to Stand with Your Family
Grief and legal questions should never have to sit on your shoulders at the same time. At Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A., we are ready to listen with compassion and fight for the justice and resources your family deserves. Your loved one mattered, and your story matters to us.
Reach out today for a free, confidential consultation, and let us begin carrying this burden for you. Call our Columbus team at (662) 370-3002, day or night. We are here, we are listening, and we are ready to help.