Investigating a McKinney Wrongful Death Case

A successful wrongful death case is built on the gradual accumulation of evidence. Medical documents, witness testimony, and physical evidence may all play a role in establishing liability against a negligent party. Investigating a McKinney wrongful death case is often aided by an experienced attorney who is familiar with the complexities of hiring expert witnesses, preserving physical evidence, and contacting eyewitnesses. For help with the investigation, contact a compassionate wrongful death lawyer.

The Investigation Process

The process of investigating a wrongful death case in McKinney is similar to investigating a severe injury case. To begin with, one of the very first things that a lawyer may do is preserve all physical evidence, such as pictures of the accident scene. In products liability claims, the lawyer may purchase the salvaged vehicle or product to ensure that they have custody of it.

Another early step is reaching out to key witnesses. Often, particularly in wrongful death car accident cases, there is a substantial accident report, and there will be witness statements taken by the police or others. Sometimes, there can be dozens of people that have been interviewed. Those people will all need to be interviewed by the attorney or by the staff to clarify key details of the case.

In addition, there is usually significant paperwork and other documentation that may serve as crucial evidence. Much of that paperwork has a shelf life, so the wrongful death lawyer will need to get letters on file with the proper authorities and organizations, asking them to preserve any paperwork related to the event.

Evidence Specific to a Wrongful Death Claim

Wrongful death cases often involve multimillion-dollar damage awards. Due to the high value of these cases, an attorney may be able to spend more money during the investigation process than they may otherwise spend in a personal injury case.

One example is an ECM download for a truck accident case. Most commercial trucks have engine control modules that record and store information about the truck’s speed, braking, and other crucial variables. Downloading data from an ECM could allow for crucial evidence in a personal injury or wrongful death case. Unfortunately, however, ECM downloads often cost thousands of dollars and may exceed the total potential damages of a minor personal injury case.

In the case of a wrongful death claim, however, the possible damages may make downloading an ECM a logical and affordable step in the investigatory process.

Most personal injury cases have a smaller investigation process, but one that is still adequate to prove liability. Fortunately, a wrongful death attorney could take extra steps to prove liability beyond any possibility of doubt.

How a McKinney Attorney Could Help With a Wrongful Death Investigation

A strong, detailed investigation may be the building block of a successful wrongful death case. Unfortunately, preserving documents, deposing witnesses, and performing other investigatory tasks is not always simple. An experienced attorney could help a decedent’s family and friends with investigating a McKinney wrongful death case. If you have recently lost a loved one due to another person or organization’s negligence, consider reaching out to a skilled lawyer.