CALL (855) 693-9177 TO SPEAK WITH COLORADO PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
Losing a loved one under any circumstances is devastating. Losing a loved one in an accident caused by the negligence of another can compound the tragedy and leave a family with many more questions than answers. If you are looking for a lawyer for someone who died, Colorado has many law firms to choose from; you may be overwhelmed by the options. Countless billboards line I-70 into Denver, and a Google search elicits thousands of results.
Though it may be difficult, it is critical that you and your family take the time to find a Colorado personal injury lawyer who will take your case as seriously as you do. If you and your family are dealing with the loss of a loved one after a wrongful death accident, call (855) 693-9177 to speak with a personal injury lawyer at Zinda Law Group today.
WHAT IS WRONGFUL DEATH?
Simply put, a wrongful death case comes from a death that was caused by the negligent, reckless, or intentional act of another party. Most commonly, these kinds of cases involve proving that the other party acted negligently. Proving that another party was negligent requires four key elements.
1. Duty
First, you must prove that the party from whom you are looking to recover had a duty to act in a certain way. For example, drivers owe a duty of care to everyone else on the road to drive in a safe way, obeying all laws and rules of the road.
2. Breach
After establishing precisely what the duty is, you must then show that the other party breached it. If you were able to establish that a ski lift operator, for example, was required to have their lifts inspected at regular intervals and did not do so, then they may be liable for damages caused by an accident involving a ski lift failure.
3. Causation
Once it is determined what the duty was and that the other party breached it, the victim must be able to show that this breach was what caused their damages. If someone is acting negligently but there is an entirely different cause of the victim’s injuries, then it is unlikely that the negligent party will be liable to pay any damages.
4. Damages
Finally, the party who is seeking compensation must be able to show that they suffered actual damages. This can take the form of medical bills, damage to your personal property, or lost wages from being unable to work for a period of time.
CASE RESULTS
$1,900,000
Personal Injury
$1,010,000
Motor Vehicle Collision
$1,250,000
Motor Vehicle Collision
$1,250,000
Motor Vehicle Collision
$1,310,000
Motor Vehicle Collision
$1,400,000
Motor Vehicle Collision
$6,500,000
Wrongful Death
WHO CAN FILE A COLORADO WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM?
Wrongful death cases are obviously different from most other personal injury claims in that the victim is not able to bring their own case. This means that an important first step in a Colorado wrongful death case is determining who, exactly, is legally allowed to bring a claim for damages. In Colorado, the answer to this inquiry is determined by statute.
In the first year after the person’s death, only the deceased’s spouse may bring a claim, subject to certain exceptions. The surviving spouse may elect in writing to let the deceased’s children file a claim or they can join with their children to file a claim together. If the person was unmarried, then their children or any other designated beneficiary may bring a claim.
In the second year after the person’s death, if no one else has filed a claim, then the list of potential claimants grows larger and does not require exceptions to be made in writing. This list includes the deceased’s surviving spouse, the deceased’s surviving children, and the deceased’s eligible designated beneficiary.
If you are someone whose family member has died recently and you believe you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim, you may be wondering, “Someone died… who do I sue?” A good first step is to speak with a Colorado wrongful death lawyer to determine if you are even a party who is allowed to sue.
TYPES OF WRONGFUL DEATH CASES
A wrongful death can result from a large variety of circumstances. However, a few types of accidents lead to wrongful death claims more often than others.
Car Accidents
When talking about wrongful deaths, car accidents top the list, given how often people drive and the sheer number of vehicles on the road. In Colorado, there are hundreds of fatal crashes on the state’s roadways each year. Though there are accidents that can occur without any fault, the vast majority of car accidents happen because of the negligence of one or more drivers, which can take the form of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, or driving while texting. If any of these apply, then the negligent driver may be liable for the injuries that they cause.
Medical Malpractice
Doctors follow a strict licensing procedure and the vast majority of them are highly skilled and extremely cautions, but mistakes do happen. Mistakes can occur when medical professionals cut corners or don’t follow the proper procedures; some of the more common mistakes include misdiagnoses and errors during surgery.
Workplace Accidents
The term “workplace accident” can conjure up images of huge pieces of machinery or explosions at an oilfield, but workplace accidents can happen anywhere. While some Coloradoans might be at a higher risk given the large amounts of construction, oil and gas, and agriculture jobs that exist in the state, anyone who is on the job can be at risk of suffering a workplace accident. If a family member of yours has lost their life due to an accident on the job, there could be compensation available for you.
Products Liability
Producers and manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that the products they put onto the market are tested thoroughly and are safe for their proper use. They also have obligations to provide proper warnings of any dangerous components. If the breach of this responsibility leads to a wrongful death, then it could lead to liability for a product merchant or producer.
HOW TO FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pursuing a wrongful death claim in Colorado can take a little time and quite a bit of effort, but you don’t have to do all of the work yourself. When you contact Zinda Law Group and explain the circumstances of your case in a 100% free and confidential conversation with one of our experienced attorneys, you are beginning with the most important step.
1. Contact a Colorado Wrongful Death Attorney
The first step after your loss should be to contact an experienced attorney who will be able to give you a better idea of whether or not you have a compensable claim, what your case could be worth, and what your options are for pursuing compensation. Family members of a wrongful death victim should look for an attorney with experience handling similar claims and access to sufficient resources to file an effective claim. You’ll want an attorney whose caseload isn’t too large to prevent them from giving your case the attention that it deserves.
2. Open a Probate Estate
Because the deceased cannot bring an action on their own, their estate must act on their behalf. Your attorney should be able to navigate you through this process.
3. Research and Investigate
After you hire an attorney, they can begin the process of gathering all of the information they will need to build a successful case. This will vary widely depending on the specific kind of wrongful death accident that occurred, but it can include things like analyzing medical records and interviewing doctors, looking into employment standards of a company or government agency, and researching the applicable Colorado laws and statutes.
4. Negotiate a Settlement
After they have all of the information they need, your attorney can begin the process of negotiating a settlement with the proper parties. Seeking maximum compensation is a delicate process that requires a proper understanding of the valuation of a case, as well as effective argumentation strategies for emphasizing the strong points of a claim while minimizing the impact of any of its weaker points.
I had the privilege of working with Zinda Law Group recently and was thoroughly impressed with the level of service and support they provided. When we began, I had reservations about the likelihood of reaching a settlement, but the team's professionalism, intelligence, and dedication quickly put those doubts to rest. They went above and beyond to ensure that I was informed and comfortable throughout the process, and their hard work and strong advocacy ultimately led to a successful outcome. I cannot thank Zinda Law Group and their staff enough for their exceptional service and support, and I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance. Their commitment to their clients and their willingness to fight for what's right truly sets them apart. In short, I give them a rating of five stars for their outstanding work. Zinda Law Group is amazing! My husband was in an accident and they made the process super easy and hassle free. They took care of everything, we are so appreciative for them! They exceeded our expectations. We will definitely be telling everyone we know about them. Thank you Zinda Law for everything! Zinda Law Group is an amazing firm! My case was not without its challenges, but they handled it all in stride. They kept me up to date, kept me informed every step of the way, and ensured I understood the process and all of my options. Burgess, Ryan and their extremely capable staff of Paralegals made a very challenging process as painless as possible. They were kind, compassionate, and patient, and just a real pleasure to work with. I would, and will, recommend them highly to anyone needing an attorney. My experience with Zinda Law Group was pretty awesome. I definitely would recommend their Law firm. Brendan and his team were very friendly, helpful and informative about my case and were able to win as well. I really appreciate all of their hard work and dedication, I highly recommend.Thank you all again for your help and your time.Sincerely,Pat.b I was very satisfied with the professionalism of my attorney and the paralegals, they helped me threw this accident and got me a great settlement, all while keeping me involved and informed. Zinda law group made me feel comfortable and I trusted them to fight for me. The trust was well placed! Thank Yous, I appreciate all that Yous done for me and my family!! I’ve had such a great experience with Zinda law group! They’ve handled everything relatively quickly and professionally. They really have made my life a lot easier. I recommend anyone dealing with auto accidents (or similarly) to Zinda Law group.I felt I was very important to them and that my feelings and thoughts were validated. They treated me with much care and respect, not like “just another client”. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. I truly recommend Zinda law group they truly helped me and my family during such a hard hard time. Very accommodating they work extremely hard to make sure that you are compensated from start to finish they made it happen and made a rough time a lot smoother than I could of ever imagined thank you all for everything if you are looking for a lawyer that goes above beyond look no further Michael will get you taken care of! Zinda Law did an excellent job for us from start to finish. They communicated clearly and their staff was great! My son Nic was in a car accident and had an injury to his eye. Zinda Law took care of everything start to finish and obtained the maximum amount possible from insurance for his injury. I am so glad I called Zinda law group. being hit by a drink driver was the worst experience of my life physically and emotionally. As soon as I reached out they got the ball rolling with all my medical needs. They were in contact with all of my appointments and made my recovery as smooth as possible. I would definitely without a doubt recommend them. A huge shout out to Shivangi for taking over and fighting for what my family and I deserved. My experience with Zinda Law Group has been OUTSTANDING! Big shoutout to Joe Caputo and his team!I was the passenger in a terrible car accident that left me needing medical attention. The person at faults insurance company reassured me that my medical bills would be taken care of. However, that was not the case. I started receiving multiple calls from debt collectors, and bill after bill by mail. The driver’s insurance company no longer returned my calls, and emails went unanswered. I was so stressed and over my head with how to handle the situation. It was time to call the pros! As soon as I made the call to Zinda Law Group, Joe and his team I were on it! I no longer received calls from debt collectors, so I knew action was taken immediately. I was informed every step of the way, and every call/email was answered. Had I called sooner, I would have never gone through all that stress. I was treated like a friend, not just a client.Thank you Zinda Law Group! I hired Zinda for a crazy situation involving an 18 wheeler where an object flew off a trailer and blasted through my windshield.I reached out to Zinda and spoke with Michael Cupero, my attorney at Zinda, after the accident once I realized this is affecting my day to day life in a significant way (PTSD from a "Final Destination" type of incident) and Michael was nothing short of fantastic through the entire process.The Zinda team, including Michael and Mary-Catherine Holt and several others, guided me through the entire process from initial settlement offers, filing the lawsuit, depositions, the whole 9.They listened to my concerns, provided clarity and perspective when needed, and not once did I feel that my best interest was not at the forefront of their actions and behavior through my experience as a client.Thank you Michael, Mary-Catherine and Zinda!If you want a team that will treat you with professionalism, respect, and understanding then do yourself a favor and reach out to Zinda! Extremely professional and communicative . They explained the process as we went along and made it very clear weighting pros and cons. They understood my pain and my worries but kept their expertise always on the top of things finding elements for me to win my case. I am thankful to have had Zinda Law Group to support me during those two years as it finalized and I can keep on living. My experience with Zinda law group has been wonderful from start to finish. Natasha and Emily explained everything very well and answered any questions I had, communicated well throughout the whole process , and handled the case very professionally, they worked very hard on my case I would definitely highly recommend to friends and family. I found myself in a situation where I needed legal representation. After looking over reviews in the area, I decided to contact Natasha at Zinda law group in the hopes that she could represent me . Natasha put me at ease with her responsiveness and her ability to accommodate my last minute needs. I had no idea what to expect. It felt like a wave of relief knowing that you're working with a professional that knows what she's doing, and knows how to get things done quickly and efficiently. I appreciate the time and attention that Natasha put into my case. I hope I won't be needing their services again in the future, but I would absolutely contact them again if I do. Thanks again I am very satisfied with the service and the outcome of my case.Since the first phone call, and every step of the way until the end, Zinda Law was on top of every detail pertaining to my auto accident case.The case is now closed, and looking back, they made every step of the process easy and manageable. They were very thorough in explaining the different scenarios, and extremely transparent with all the possible outcomes.Thank you to every person who aided in the success of my case, all of whom were exceptional in their tasks and working as a team. The Zinda Law Group was outstanding in helping me with my aunts case. My two Attorneys Neil and Shivangi were very compassionate, kind, eager to help, and really listen carefully and attentively to my case about my aunt. My aunt got hit by a driver while crossing the street and killed. I went after the guys insurance; although, this doesn't bring back my aunt, but allows for this not to happen to other people like this in her case. These attorneys worked very hard and efficiently to bring the justice that they saw fit. When I had a question they explained in terms I understood and not above and beyond me. I appreciate it when people can come down to my level and not intimidate and use trepidation on someone in feeling like they are the fly while they're the spider waiting for the right moment for the fly to walk into its web.Neil and Shivangi always whenever they called asked me how I was at the beginning of our conversations and is there anything I needed at the end of each call. Each call they made to me, was made very professional, personable and felt heart felt as if you were part of the family. At the end of each subject matter they always asked, "Do you have any questions for me before we go to the next thing we need to talk about?" They always wanted to make sure I understood everything before the next item we needed to talk about. These guys really are good and want to please the client anyway they can I thought; when I first started talking to them. I give them above and beyond a 5-Star rating if there was such a thing. I Highly Recommend The Zinda Law Group to Anyone who needs them. This is what I give them if I could!!💯💯💯💯💯 and👍👍👍👍👍 and⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❗❗❗THANK YOU TO NEIL, SHIVANGI, MARA AND TO EVERYONE AT THE ZINDA LAW GROUP WHO WORKED ON MY CASE!! I APPRECIATE YOU ALL! I would like to recognize a fantastic attorney named Joe Caputo from Zinda Law Group. I was involved in an auto accident that had many complicated moving parts that were hard to navigate and understand as a victim. Joe was so gracious and spent quality time explaining what courses of action I needed to take as a victim to protect myself. Joe was also diligent in following up with me regarding my case and provided guides and checklists that were extremely helpful to keep things organized and moving. Joe was always readily available for my questions and responded promptly. Joe Caputo's excellent counsel ensured I protected myself when dealing with the opposing insurance company and ensured the best possible outcome for my case. Joe's expertise in personal injury lawsuits helped alleviate the stress and anxiety that follows the aftermath of an auto accident. Thanks again Joe! You are truly an amazing, kind person and attorney! Zinda Law was incredibly amazing. I had the pleasure of working with Michael and his incredibly hard working team after my wreck in November. They went above and beyond keeping up with my health, bills, insurance companies, all that fun stuff I had no time for. After what felt like such a short amount of time, they were able to win every last penny from the "bad guys" insurance (loved that term). I couldn't happier, and even though I went through something traumatic, it was still the best experience I could have ever asked for. Thank you Michael and everyone that helped with my case, yall are the best!! My attorney was Christina , she and her team gave me the best outcome for my case .I am giving an honesty review at first I was very upset because I kept getting moved around and I never knew who I was talking to because they switch attorneys and kept changing my paralegals.. I was going to go with another law firm but Christina helped me with my case from then on out and she worked around my schedule to talk to me which I appreciate. Also my last law firm took 30 percent, and this one took 33 percent which I wasn’t to happy so just a heads up. Overall I rate this 4 stars cause I’m just happy the case is over with and I get to go back to my life.Update: I just received another call from my attorney and they have worked to negotiate my case with the billing and have put more money in my pocket. All the money that I had spent while working on the case has came back to me. I can fully move on and say that I have gain every penny that was lose during those hard times. I’m so happy and thankful to Zinda law group!!!!!! Zinda Law Group did an excellent job with my case. The staff was super friendly and super effective as far as communicating with me throughout the entire case. I highly recommend Zinda Law Group for your next case and for any of your future cases. 5 Stars across the board thank you so much for everything! Joh Harper, Priyonka Bhikha, and the rest of the team gave my case a quick and satisfactory conclusion. The attorney, Mr. Harper did an absolutely amazing job keeping me on the same page as far as the case goes. Honestly, if anybody is hurt in a car wreck or another personal injury case, I WILL STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU SPEAK TO THEM. I was in a motor vehicle collision about two years ago. From the minute I picked up the phone to speak with a representative to the case finally settling, it was a great experience. I worked with Burgess Williams and his team (Kathy, Ryan, and Linda) throughout the process. They were all very professional and helpful when I needed them the most. Great Firm. I was in motorcycle accident- T-boned at a full stop with my daughter riding on back. Zinda's team was instantly responsive. Christina was very compassionate, organized and scheduled time before every legal event to discuss goals and overview. The process was 2 years but during that time the lawyers and staff (John and Shane were also great) were always available and understanding. The team is focused on doing what is right and by the book. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who is suffering from a motorcycle accident. Jason Aldridge and his paralegal Mara did an absolutely amazing job on my case. They were very responsive to all emails, calls and even texts. They treated me with dignity and respect from start to finish. I never once felt like my case was at the back of the list or anything. Not only did they explain and walked me through everything, they got me the help I needed and a final outcome over what I had expected. I would highly recommend this law firm, Jason and Mara to anyone seeking legal assistance. Highly Recommended-100% Satisfied!.From the initial phone call I felt confident I chose the right firm. They explained the process and I was always in the loop, even when we were at a stand still. Very grateful I was quickly referred to them by a friend who had a similar case. Both of us are happy with the end result. Thank you! My team of lawyer were very professional and communicated extremely clearly. They kept me updated on their status and did not make me worry at all about my situation. They explained everything to me very well and put things into simple terms for my understanding. I am very satisfied with their performance. I would recommend them to anyone that's been involved in an accident and feels skeptical in engaging an attorney.When one gets into an accident, you're traumatized, confused, angry and helpless.That was me last year, getting all kinds of advice becomes your next norm, to use or not to use an attorney.I was in so much pain from my injuries but at the same time knew I had to act fast.I called Zinda Law Group for consultation, they took my case seriously and treated me with respect, they were very professional and understanding.Elizabeth, kudos to you, you're true to your word, Integrity should be your last name.Jason Aldridge my attorney went to work immediately, he assured me that all be well and I should concentrate on my healing and he will do the rest. Thank your Sir, You did just that.His team, Mara, Zuleyma and Andrew, they all become my support system, so professional and lots of respect in each and everyphone call or email. Thank you guys.I would recommend anyone to use Zinda Law Group. I honestly loved not dealing with the hospital bills while I was recuperating. It gave me peace of mind going through this process and Zinda took care of everything. They found awesome health providers for me and haven't had to worry about anything while they've been taking my case. I've been well informed, communicated with, responded to and understood by Zinda. They have been efficient and effective while working on my case and I'm so glad I choose to go with this law firm. When I was injured in a car accident in March of 2020 the insurance companies were not concerned with my well being. I called Zinda Law group & spoke with Reagan, who went over my concerns & later had Jono contact me. After reviewing my information with Jono my case was immediately put in motion. I worked mainly with Sam Thomas who truly was a blessing to me, he was very supportive & genuinely concerned with my well being, everything wasn't simply about the case it was about me being healed & getting the proper treatment that I needed. Sam was also emotionally supportive when I went through several losses in my family & is a great friend. In all everyone was extremely supportive & all worked for me which was quite a different legal experience for me from Law groups in my past. I was well supported, always informed, treated with respect & made the priority in all decisions. Zinda Law Group made sure I was compensated completely & that I didn't have financial stresses over hospital bills after all was said & done. Sam, Katrina, Mary Catherine, Reagan & Jono I just want to thank you & all of Zinda for the incredible experience & the wonderful caring people that you all are, you are truly Golden in your field. I am so glad I got in touch with Zinda! My car accident occurred just 4 days prior to moving, during the busiest week of the year at my job, and just a week before the quarantine was declared a new reality for all of us. Everyone at Zinda remained persistent, supportive, and most of all advocated for me throughout such a chaotic time. I’ll always be grateful for the care they took to make sure my health and well-being were taken care of. So super grateful to know that a split second mistake someone else made doesn’t have to dictate my life. Thanks! My experience with Zinda Law Group was better than expected. After an accident that totalled my car, I reached out and was paired with a wonderful attorney. She communicated frequently and responded to my calls and texts in a timely manner. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and answered all of my questions. I was kept in the loop during every step of the process. I would call Zinda Law if I ever need this type of support again. I had an excellent experience working with the attorneys at Zinda Law Group! They were knowledgeable, professional and patient. They walked me through every step of the long process of getting treatment after my car wreck and kept me updated with timeframes and next steps. I would absolutely recommend anyone working with them! They helped me with so much! I had a dog bite happen 2019 and it was very heart breaking! This law group made everything so easy to help me through a rough time! John Rogers and Shane Eckert were very easy to talk to and open about if I needed to talk about frustrations I had with bills. Everything got closed before Christmas and I was so blessed! I highly recommend them no matter what! Thank you guys so much! Zinda Law Group helped me with my personal injury case after an auto accident. I was hurt pretty badly and I wasn't sure which attorney to call, I looked at reviews for Zinda Law and called right away.Kaitlin Nares and her team were so responsive and helpful. Kaitlin called me right away and helped me navigate through a very difficult process and time in my life. Being hurt in a car accident changes you!!! My case settled for more than I thought it would, and a lot quicker. I know sometimes things are more complicated, but my case was settled in only 3 months after my accident. Mary-Catherine was also so helpful in making sure everything was finalized! I have referred two people who have recently been in auto accident because it's not IF, its WHEN these days... I usually don't write reviews unless I feel strongly about sharing my experience to help others! Thank you!!! I was referred here by a family member. Our lawyer jason and his team did and amazing job. They kept me updated in everything made sure I understood what was going on. My son was hit by a van in the hospital jason came right over. He's awesome so much down to earth straight forward. I would recommend him and his firm to everyone and I have thank you zinda but most of all thank you Jason for being there for us for being a friend Zinda Law Group was recommended to me from another satisfied client and I certainly received excellent service. The attorneys and staff are very proactive with communication and I knew every step of the way what was happening on my case. I never felt pressured with decision making and they went above & beyond to answer questions with satifactory explanations. This is a very professional group of attorneys & support staff. In addition, they were willing to meet me at a location more convenient for me. I appreciated their concern for my time. Could not speak highly enough of the firm. I was involved in my first accident and thankfully had Zinda Law Group supporting me through the scary time. Jono took care of me every step of the way. He made me feel like I was a priority through the entire process. A big thank you to Jono and the rest of the Zinda crew! ‹
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DEALING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES
In most cases, the negligent party will have some sort of insurance to deal with any potential accidents. This means that it is important to understand a bit about how insurance companies operate. First, remember that insurance companies are businesses first and foremost. This means that they exist to make a profit; to do this, their goal is to take in as much in premiums as they can and pay out as little as they are legally obligated to. Your best interest is not their main concern
In light of this, communicating with insurance companies can be a minefield. Insurance companies often employ claims adjusters who have the goal of getting information or statements from you that could damage your claim. It is typically best, therefore, to let your attorney handle the majority of the communications with insurance companies. When you do give information, give no more information than is necessary and confer with your attorney about how to handle any questions or requests that come your way.
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), JOE CAPUTO (2019-2021), BURGESS WILLIAMS (2019-2020), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020), JOE CAPUTO (2016 – 2020) & BURGESS WILLIAMS (2016-2017)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA & JOE CAPUTO
Dealing with the death of a loved one due to a wrongful death accident is an extremely stressful experience. Attempting to go it alone or with the wrong attorney can compound these stressors even further. Zinda Law Group stands at the ready to be able to help you and your family through this very difficult time. In addition, we believe that no accident victim should have to worry about their ability to afford legal representation, which is why we offer our No-Win, No-Fee guarantee. You don’t pay us anything until we win your case for you.
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