Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences you’ll have to endure in life. You trust a funeral home to handle your loved one’s remains professionally to ensure a respectful and dignified farewell. Unfortunately, some funeral homes don’t take their responsibilities seriously. That violation of trust can cause your family to suffer unnecessary financial strain and emotional trauma.
If a funeral home in Nashville, Tennessee, violated your family’s trust, our team at Meyers Personal Injury Law is here to help you hold them accountable. Each year, we use our experience to recover millions of dollars on behalf of families like yours.
Did a funeral home’s greed, neglect, or intentional wrongdoing cause your family to suffer? You don’t have to let them off the hook without a fight.
Contact us at 615-258-9000 to schedule a free consultation with Meyers Injury Law and learn more about how we can fight for you.
How Can Meyers Injury Law Help if My Family Was a Victim of Funeral Home Negligence in Nashville, TN?
Funeral home negligence cases can be challenging on many fronts. Families are often left dealing with unimaginable emotional trauma and anger. Evidence can be difficult to locate. Facing off against the funeral home’s insurance company can be overwhelming and frustrating.
At Meyers Injury Law, we know that you’re already grieving. No family should have to deal with a funeral home’s unforgivable mistake on top of everything else.
Our Nashville personal injury attorneys can help by:
- Launching an investigation into the funeral home’s actions
- Collecting all evidence to prove your case
- Explaining all legal options for recovering compensation
- Identifying all sources of insurance
- Bringing in experts when necessary to prove you were a victim of negligence
- Handling the paperwork and meeting all filing deadlines
- Negotiating with the funeral home’s insurance company for a full settlement
- Taking your case to trial if the insurance offer is not acceptable
We know you probably have questions about your legal rights. Our Nashville personal injury lawyers offer a free case evaluation so you can get the answers you deserve. Call us today to arrange yours.
What Is Funeral Home Negligence?
Funeral home negligence occurs anytime the funeral home’s staff fails to perform their duties in accordance with the standards set by law.
Funeral homes in Tennessee are strictly regulated by state law. They’re subject to certain standards to protect grieving families.
These laws contain rules regarding:
- Licensing requirements
- Handling of human remains
- Protection for families
It’s often impossible to reverse the harm caused by a funeral home’s negligence. However, when funeral homes neglect their duties, surviving family members can sue for compensation.
Many families aren’t sure whether they have a strong claim for compensation. Our Nashville funeral home negligence attorneys will review your case for free. We know you’ve suffered an unimaginable trauma, and we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights.
What Are Some Signs of Funeral Home Negligence?
Families are typically in a vulnerable state when attending a loved one’s memorial services. Although some errors are immediately obvious, in other cases, it can be difficult to know for certain whether the funeral home has disregarded its duties.
Some signs of funeral home negligence include:
- Visible damage to the decedent’s body
- Missing personal items
- Discrepancies in billing
- Unexplained delays
- Unsanitary conditions
- Lack of communication from the funeral home
- Failure to provide death certificates or cremation papers
If you notice any signs of funeral home negligence, start to gather evidence immediately. Keep all documentation related to the funeral services. Contact a lawyer who can help as soon as you can.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Funeral Home Negligence in Nashville?
Families can pursue a range of compensation in cases involving funeral home negligence. Tennessee law allows you to pursue both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive include:
- Reimbursement for any expenses you have incurred, including casket purchase, flowers, services, and other items purchased from the funeral home
- Lost wages if you were forced to miss work to deal with the funeral home’s negligence
- Mental suffering, emotional distress, PTSD, and trauma
- Medical bills if you suffered any medical issues because of the funeral home’s actions
- Punitive damages if the funeral home’s actions were intentional or particularly shocking
Documenting these damages can be more difficult than you might think. The funeral home’s insurance company will want hard evidence that can be tough to find. That’s one way our lawyers can help. We’ve seen cases like yours before, and we know what it takes to hold the at-fault parties accountable.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Funeral Home Negligence Case in Tennessee?
Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. Your attorneys’ fees depend on the level of compensation we recover in your case. Once your case is resolved, we take a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
We Handle All Types of Funeral Home Negligence Claims in Nashville
Funeral home negligence can take on many forms. Our team at Meyers Injury Law is prepared to handle any type of legal claim based on a funeral home’s failure to properly carry out its duties.
Some examples of the types of funeral home negligence claims we handle include:
Losing the Decedent’s Body or Ashes
It may seem unimaginable, but it’s possible that the funeral home could lose track of your loved one’s body or ashes. If your family’s funeral home inexplicably misplaced your loved one’s remains, our attorneys are here to help you fight for justice.
Mishandling the Decedent’s Remains
Your loved one’s remains should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Mishandling the remains can involve dropping and damaging the body or even presenting the wrong body at the funeral service. These mistakes can cause a family to suffer significant mental trauma.
Improper Storage
Funeral homes are expected to provide sanitary and temperature-controlled storage. Failure to properly store the body can lead to premature decomposition and irreparable harm. Funeral homes can be held liable for this type of negligent storage.
Theft of Personal Items
Families often provide sentimental and personal items to be buried along with their loved ones. Out of pure greed, funeral home staff may steal these items. While this type of theft is also a crime, grieving loved ones also have the right to pursue compensation in civil court.
Improper Cremation
Cremation is a process that cannot be reversed. These mistakes can be extremely devastating for the family.
Improper Embalming
Families trust funeral homes to prepare their loved ones’ bodies for viewing. Improper embalming can include the use of inadequate or low-quality chemicals or failure to properly store the embalmed body in a temperature-controlled area.
Failure to Adhere to Contract Terms
Most families have specific instructions for their loved one’s memorial services. Religious and cultural traditions can be extremely important to your farewell. A funeral home’s failure to follow your instructions can amount to negligence.
Sexual Abuse or Mutilation of a Corpse
Funeral home negligence can also involve unthinkable intentional misconduct. Sexually abusing a decedent’s remains is a horrific crime. Surviving families also have the right to take legal action and pursue financial compensation from those responsible.
How Do I Prove a Funeral Home Was Negligent in Tennessee?
Negligence is the legal basis for holding a defendant liable for the harm they have caused.
To prove negligence, you must prove the following:
- You hired the funeral home to handle your loved one’s remains, so they owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty of care by failing to exercise reasonable care to avoid causing harm
- That breach caused some type of harm
- Damages, meaning physical harm to your loved one’s body, emotional trauma for your family, and/or financial losses
Funeral homes are responsible for the actions of their employees. You may have a direct case against the funeral home even if a funeral home employee was technically negligent. Remember, funeral homes have a duty to screen employees, train them, and provide adequate supervision.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit Based on the Harm Caused By Funeral Home Negligence in Tennessee?
State law always limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. While most negligence cases are resolved through negotiations with the insurance company, the threat of a lawsuit should always be on the table.
The deadline in your case will depend on the circumstances. You could have as little as one year to file a personal injury lawsuit. Typically, the statute of limitations starts to run on the date the harm occurred or the date you discovered the harm. You may forfeit your right to compensation if you miss this deadline, so contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Contact a Trusted Nashville Funeral Home Negligence Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Has your family been victimized by a negligent funeral home? You deserve to take legal action. Contact Meyers Injury Law for guidance today. An experienced Nashville funeral home negligence attorney can help your family fight for justice.
