Make a plan for coping with a loved one’s death

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Losing a loved one suddenly is an extremely harrowing experience. If you are still reeling from a tragic death that was caused by an accident, there are a few things that you need to think about. Each of these is important enough on its own, but putting them together can help you to move forward with your life after such a derailing blow. From dealing with the initial shock through deciding if a wrongful death lawsuit is something to pursue, you need to create a plan. Make plans for the final arrangements The final arrangements after your loved one's death might come with some difficult decisions. These arrangements will deal with the funeral and burial of your loved one or the cremation, depending on what your loved one wanted, or may have wanted, since a sudden death means you may now know such a thing. Make sure that you are thinking about your loved one's wishes and the budget that you can afford so that this process doesn't become more stressful than necessary. Take care of yourself Don't become so focused in the logistical planning that you forget to take care of yourself. There is a good chance that people might offer help in the days and weeks after your loved one's death. Accept that help so that you aren't having to deal with undue stress. You might find that you need to speak about your loved one and discuss your feeling to work through the welter emotions that are natural to feel. Find out about estate plan matters If your loved one had an estate plan, you will need to find out what is included in it. Handling the estate is necessary so that everything can move along to the proper heir. Make sure that you are handling debts and other matters in accordance with the estate planning laws set by New Jersey. Consider a wrongful death lawsuit When a death is caused by another party's negligence, you might choose to file a wrongful death claim. This might be because of a motor vehicle crash, medical malpractice or something similar. There are four points that must be present if you are going to file a wrongful death claim.

• The person who died must have been a human.
• The death must have been due to recklessness, intentional action or negligence.
• The loved ones left behind must have a financial impact from the death.
• The person who died must have someone handling his or her estate.

A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed in a timely manner. While it is understandable that you need time to mourn after the death, make sure that you keep the statute of limitations in mind so that it doesn't slip by without your taking action.