What To Do If You’ve Lost a Loved One in a Car Crash

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recently reported that in 2021, there was a 10.5% increase in traffic fatalities from the previous year. The NHTSA projects that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, compared to 38,824 from the year before. This is certainly a startling statistic and I’d like to provide the following pointers to anyone whose loved one might have been one of these victims.

I’m a personal injury lawyer in Kansas City and have been handling traffic fatality cases for almost 15 years. I hope these things help anyone going through such tragedy.

If possible, get an estate set up for your deceased loved one and have a representative appointed.

Although Missouri law does not require an estate for a wrongful death case, it can help in cases where the surviving family members are minors or not competent enough to be the point person in a traffic fatality case.

A good estate representative can help explain to a jury how the money will be distributed and where it will go. This will help prevent concerns that the people bringing the lawsuit will misuse any money that is recovered in the lawsuit.

Consult with an attorney as soon as possible.

The statute of limitations for wrongful death cases in Missouri is shorter than normal car crash cases. For death cases, the statute of limitations is 3 years. For car crash cases, the statute of limitations is 5 years. Three years may seem like plenty of time, but when you’re grieving and lost from the death of your loved one, the time can fly by. Keep this in mind and don’t miss the statute of limitations.

These are just a couple tips for Missouri traffic fatality cases. If you have lost a loved one in a crash and have questions about a possible case, please don’t hesitate to contact our firm.