Idaho Falls Wrongful Death Attorneys Helping Families Seek Accountability

You do not need a perfect file before you call. A few facts make the first conversation more useful: the date of death, where it happened, any crash or incident report, the hospital name if there was one, and the names of insurers that have already called.

If an adjuster asks for a recorded statement or a signed release, you can wait. Early statements get used later to limit what the family can recover. Tell them you are getting legal advice and you are not ready to give a statement. Then call us. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

Keep what you already have. That can include photos, names of witnesses, medical bills, funeral invoices, and pay stubs that show the income the family lost. Do not throw those out, and do not post the details on social media. Insurers read those posts.

Idaho reduces a recovery by the deceased person's share of fault. If that share is 50% or more, the claim may be barred against the other negligent parties. Insurers look for that share. They look at speed, distraction, prior medical conditions, and anything else that moves blame away from their driver, their doctor, or their property.

Allen Browning worked in the insurance industry before becoming a plaintiff's attorney. That background is useful here, because the file has to answer the arguments an adjuster will make. We do that with records. We do not guess at a number on the first phone call.

Most families would rather not sit through a trial. That is a fair preference. The way to get a serious offer is still to build the case as if it will be tried. Medical records, wage records, and a clear account of what the person provided to the family are what make an insurer move.

Allen Browning has tried 114+ cases to juries in Idaho. In 2009 he won a $1,834,000 jury verdict in a motor vehicle case. It was the first motor vehicle verdict over $1 million in Eastern Idaho. We make every effort to settle before trial. The trial record is what makes a reasonable demand harder to ignore. Combined, the three attorneys at the firm have 78+ years of experience. You work with this office, not a call center. If you want to talk through the facts before you decide anything, that first call is free, and we will tell you what the next step is.

A wrongful death claim is a civil case for the family. It is not the criminal case, and a death by itself does not make an insurer write a check. Someone has to have been negligent, and that negligence has to have caused the death. If the records do not show that, the case should not be filed. If they do, the family should not sign a release before those records have been read.

The people who can file in Idaho are a spouse, children, parents, other dependents, or the personal representative of the estate. The deadline is generally two years from the date of death. Those are the two questions families ask first. They are also the two that cannot be repaired later if they are missed.

A death after a crash is often the same kind of proof as a serious injury case: the report, the vehicles, the medical care, and the wages that stopped. A death after surgery, a missed diagnosis, or a medication error is harder. The chart has to be reviewed, and an expert usually has to explain how the care fell short. Steve Carpenter handles medical malpractice and brain injury cases as part of that review. We will tell you if the facts support a claim. We will also tell you if they do not.

The office is at 1615 Grandview Dr in Idaho Falls, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Browning Law is licensed to handle cases anywhere in Idaho. Families in Pocatello, Twin Falls, Blackfoot, Burley, and Idaho Falls can start with the local page or call the Idaho Falls office directly.

For a death or severe injury outside Idaho, the firm can network with attorneys in other states when that is the right fit. If you want to talk through what happened, call (208) 542-2700.