Is your family struggling because a funeral home in Brentwood, TN, carelessly violated your trust and expectations? Funeral home negligence can cause unbearable pain and trauma, all while you’re already grieving the loss of a loved one. If your family is suffering, an experienced Brentwood funeral home negligence lawyer can help you fight to hold the negligent funeral home accountable.
Our lawyers at Meyers Personal Injury Law know what it takes to help your family get justice. Every single year, we use our experience and resources to recover millions of dollars on behalf of grieving families.
Regardless of whether the nursing home acted intentionally, was greedy or simply neglected their legal duties, you shouldn’t have to handle the consequences on your own. Contact our law offices at 615-258-9000 in Brentwood, Tennessee, to schedule a free consultation and get the legal assistance you deserve.
Why Should I Call Meyers Injury Law for Legal Help if My Family Was a Victim of Funeral Home Negligence in Brentwood, TN?
Funeral homes are businesses like any other. When their employees make mistakes or cause intentional harm, the business can be held responsible. They carry insurance to deal with these situations.
That doesn’t mean recovering compensation will be easy. The insurance company’s defense teams may quickly step in to downplay your losses. They may deny liability entirely. You shouldn’t have to worry about a legal battle during this already-difficult time.
When you hire Meyers Injury Law, you’re hiring an experienced Brentwood personal injury attorney who will:
- Conduct an investigation and locate evidence to prove your case
- Assess your damages
- Determine how much compensation you truly deserve
- Handle all communications, paperwork, and legal filings
- Identify all sources of compensation
- Negotiate with the other side for a full settlement
- Take your case to trial if necessary to get justice
If your family is suffering because of a funeral home’s actions, our Brentwood personal injury lawyers know how to help. We offer a free case review so you can learn about your legal options without any risk or obligation. Contact us today to arrange a time to talk with a Brentwood funeral home negligence lawyer.
What is Funeral Home Negligence?
Every single one of us has legal obligations under the law. When we ignore our duties, we can be held liable when others are harmed.
The same goes for businesses like funeral homes. Funeral homes have a legal duty to ensure their staff performs their duties in a way that satisfies legal standards.
Tennessee state law specifies the standards that apply to funeral homes and their employees. These standards have been developed to protect families during some of their most vulnerable moments.
Tennessee law sets standards regarding:
- Licensing requirements
- How the funeral home handles the human remains
- General protections for grieving families
Funeral home negligence cases are similar to personal injury cases. By taking legal action, you can pursue compensation for the losses you’ve suffered. While money can’t ever fully make up for the damage the funeral home has caused, it can help your family find a way to move forward.
How Do I Know Whether the Funeral Home Has Neglected Its Legal Duties?
It’s not always easy to be certain that a funeral home has ignored its obligations. Attending a loved one’s memorial services can be incredibly difficult. Some violations are immediately obvious, such as if a body was misplaced or improperly cremated. Others can be much more subtle, yet damaging in the long run.
Some indications that the funeral home has ignored its responsibilities include:
- Any type of actual damage to the body
- Failure to communicate or respond to questions/issues
- Billing discrepancies and errors
- Violation of a contractual agreement
- Missing personal items that were to be displayed or buried with the decedent
- Unsanitary conditions
- Lack of communication from the funeral home
- Failure to promptly provide your loved one’s ashes after cremation
- Failure to provide death certificates or cremation papers in a reasonable amount of time
It’s important to keep all receipts and documentation from the funeral home. Gather any evidence that you can to confirm your suspicions.
When in doubt about your legal rights, consult a lawyer who can help. Even if the funeral home was clearly in the wrong, they won’t always offer to pay the fair compensation you deserve. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and fight for every dime the funeral home owes.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Victims of Funeral Home Negligence in Brentwood, TN?
Under Tennessee law, you can seek compensation for any losses you have experienced due to the funeral home’s actions. Your compensation award can include money for both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of compensation your family may be entitled to receive include:
- Reimbursement for any costs, including expenses for the casket, flowers, services, and any items purchased from the funeral home
- Lost wages if you missed time at work due to the trauma and ordeal
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, PTSD, and other forms of mental trauma
- Medical bills, if the funeral home’s actions triggered the need for medical care
In cases involving intentional wrongdoing or particularly shocking actions, punitive damages may also be available strictly as punishment.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Help With a Funeral Home Negligence Case in Tennessee?
Meyers Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay anything upfront to retain our legal services. Instead, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of the compensation we recover in your case.
Our Attorneys Handle All Types of Funeral Home Negligence Claims in Brentwood
To recover compensation for funeral home negligence, you’ll have to prove what happened and how your family was harmed as a result. Funeral home negligence cases can involve many different scenarios.
At Meyers Injury Law, we handle all types of funeral home negligence claims, including those involving:
Failure to Follow the Terms of a Contract
Every family is different. You may have provided detailed instructions for your loved one’s funeral services. When a funeral home fails to respect your traditions and wishes, it should be held accountable for the damage it causes.
Loss or Misplacement of the Body or Ashes
Funeral homes are responsible for the proper handling of your loved one’s body or ashes. It can be incredibly traumatic to learn that your loved one’s remains have been lost or misplaced. You can count on our team to help you fight to hold them responsible for compensating your family.
Mishandling the Decedent’s Remains
It can be incredibly shocking to see that your loved one’s body has been mishandled. These actions can damage the body and traumatize the family. The funeral home may have even presented the wrong body at the services. If you were a victim, call our law firm today to discuss your options.
Outright Theft of Personal Items
Families often specify that jewelry and other personal items will either be displayed at the funeral or buried with their loved one. These items can have financial and sentimental value. Theft is both a crime and an intentional tort that gives victims the right to seek compensation.
Cremating the Wrong Body
Learning that your loved one has been cremated against your wishes can be extremely difficult. After all, the cremation can’t be reversed. Often, the only way to get justice is to fight for compensation.
Improper Embalming or Storage
The funeral home is in charge of ensuring the decedent’s body is ready for viewing. Using inadequate or poor-quality chemicals can significantly damage the body and lead to premature decomposition. The body must also be stored in a temperature-controlled, sanitary area to prevent damage.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation from a Negligent Funeral Home in Tennessee?
The legal elements of your case will depend on the theories involved. Most cases involve negligence.
Negligence means:
- The funeral home owed you a legal duty of care because you hired them to handle your loved one’s services
- They failed to exercise a reasonable amount of care, so they breached that duty
- The breach caused some harm or injury
- Your family suffered damages as a result
Most likely, you’ll be dealing with the funeral home’s insurance company. They’ll want to see strong evidence to prove the value of your damages before they hand over a settlement. Insurance companies are trained to press for reduced settlements. An experienced Brentwood funeral home negligence attorney can step in and handle the negotiations while you focus on your family.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit Based on Funeral Home Negligence in Tennessee?
The statute of limitations in most injury cases gives you one year to take legal action. However, a different deadline may apply depending on the facts.
Contact an Experienced Brentwood Funeral Home Negligence Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Funeral home negligence can cause significant unnecessary harm. If your family is struggling, call Meyers Injury Law to learn how a Brentwood funeral home negligence lawyer can fight for you.
