Kentucky Wrongful Death Attorney

Daryl Dixon

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Stages of a Wrongful Death Case--Stage I

In every Wrongful Death Case that I handle I see many more similarities than I see differences. I was speaking to a Gentleman yesterday who was telling me of the horrible turn of events that led to his son's wrongful death. This accident took place around two months ago. It dawned on me that he was in what I will later explain as Stage Two. I really sympathized with this man because he didn't know what to do. He knows all to well that no lawsuit or claim will bring back his son. He also knows that there is no amount of money in the world that is worth that precious life.

This is the part of my job that is very rewarding. When I can spend some time with someone who has gone through incredible loss and just share with them the knowledge that I have in this field. It is a time when I just let the person know that I Do KNOW what you are going through and I have been here before. Most times I will never speak with that person again. But the lasting image I want them to have is that there are those out there that do care and do sympathize with the situation you are in. This legal profession is a very caring profession and we want families of the victims in these situations to be armed with all the knowledge and understanding of the law that will allow them to make decisions.......once they are ready. There is absolutely no pressure on my part to try and sign a new client but rather an opportunity for me to make a difference in this person's life even if just for a moment.

Stage I is what I often refer to as the Shock Stage. This is the numbing feeling that usually accompanies the news that a loved one has been killed. It is the stage where the family and friends of the victim ask "Why me"? or "Why Us, or Why Now." It is the stage where everyone close to the victim is looking for a reason and an explanation as to why this happens. Most of the time the answer is a simple.......We don't know why??

This Shock Stage comes and goes very quickly as things move fast. There is a funeral and then there is much sadness and many times the hearts and souls of a community and families bond together to survive this initial shock. Most of the time legal options and fault are put on the back burner for the more important opportunity to celebrate a life that ended to soon and honor this person and their legacy.

It is at the end of this initial stage, which comes very fast, that the families are left with that hollow and empty feeling. I find that this stage usually only last five days to two weeks. At this point the family and friends of the victim move into Stage II or what I call Grief and Grieving Stage. I will write more in my next blog on Kentucky Wrongful Death about Stage II, the Grief Stage.