Your family can face profound hardship if a loved one died because of another party’s negligence. Anger, confusion, and sudden financial pressure can compound your grief if your relative suffered a fatal fall on unsafe property. You may be left with funeral costs, lost income, and unanswered questions about how this happened.
Fatal slip and fall accidents in Memphis raise difficult issues, such as proving a property owner’s negligence and identifying who has the right to file a claim. An experienced slip and fall attorney from The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs can guide your grieving family through the legal process with compassion and skill.
How a Slip and Fall Becomes Fatal
Slips and falls may seem minor, but these accidents can turn deadly, especially for older adults and those with existing health conditions. A hard fall can cause:
- A traumatic brain injury
- Spinal damage
- A fractured hip
- Internal bleeding
In some cases, the victim survives the fall but later dies from complications, including an infection or a blood clot.
These tragedies often arise from a property owner’s failure to keep their premises safe. Wet floors without warning signs, broken stairs, poor lighting, and uneven walkways can create deadly hazards. When a property owner ignores a known danger, they can be responsible for a resulting death. Memphis families pursuing claims after their loved ones’ lethal slipping or tripping injuries deserve thorough investigations into what went wrong.
Who Is Eligible To File a Wrongful Death Claim?
State law is specific about who may bring a wrongful death claim after a fatal fall. The surviving spouse is the first person with authorization to file under Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-5-106. If there is no surviving spouse, the right passes to the deceased person’s children and then to the next of kin, such as parents or siblings. A personal representative of the estate may also file for the benefit of these family members.
This hierarchy can create confusion and disputes among relatives during a painful time. Our Memphis legal counsel can explain who has the right to file a wrongful death claim after a trip and fall accident and help them bring the claim correctly and on time. Acting promptly protects important evidence before it disappears.
Available Compensation for Surviving Families
When a family loses a loved one to a fatal fall, no amount of money can undo the loss. Still, state law allows surviving family members to recover compensation that eases the financial burden and holds the negligent party accountable. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-5-113, a wrongful death claim can include compensation for:
- Medical expenses resulting from the final injury
- Funeral and burial costs
- The pecuniary value of the deceased person’s life
- Lost income and benefits the deceased would have provided
- The deceased person’s conscious pain and suffering
- Loss of love, companionship, and guidance for the family
Attorney Elissa M. Coombs works closely with each family to document these losses fully. Pursuing fair compensation after a fatal Memphis slipping or falling accident requires legal skill and genuine care.
Call Our Memphis Attorney To Discuss Deadly Slip or Trip Injuries
Your family should not have to face the aftermath of your loved one’s fatal fall without support and answers. While a legal claim cannot bring your relative back, it can provide stability and a measure of justice. Understanding how the claims process works can help you proceed with confidence.
At The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs, we are dedicated to helping grieving families pursue the compensation and accountability they deserve after fatal slip and fall accidents in Memphis. Our team can handle your family’s legal burden while you heal. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
