Are the laws or rules applying to a wrongful death claim different from a personal injury not involving death?

A: Yes, there are many different laws that apply in each state.  Most such cases arise under state laws (but some federal laws set forth the rules/laws) and each state provides evidence laws on the types of losses/damages that can even be recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit (caused by negligence, carelessness, or violation of a relevant statute/regulation).  The state limitation period to even file a wrongful death suit is sometimes different than the statute of limitations for a personal injury suit.  Also, many states have laws on who can file the suit for the deceased person.  We highly recommend you obtain a free consultation very early on to protect your family.  Please review case results on this site, but better yet call us immediately for a free consultation.