Johnson City, Tennessee Wrongful Death Lawyer & Attorney

We offer our sincere condolences on the loss of your loved on, if that is the reason that you are on this page. Deaths as the result of the recklessness or negligence of others – such as car crashes and motorcycle accidents – are especially painful, as they should never have occurred.

In a wrongful death matter, our firm is dedicated to recovering full and fair compensation for the family and loved ones left behind. We understand not only the emotional pain, but also the financial void that is often left.

We would invite you to call us at your convenience to schedule a free consultation and to learn about the options for you and your family for seeking compensation from those liable. When we meet and understand your case, we can provide advice about who we believe may be liable, the legal options you may have for seeking justice, and how we will work tirelessly for you and your family in seeking full compensation. As a wrongful death lawyer for Johnson City and the surrounding communities, Attorney Mark Hurt is committed to pursuing justice on behalf of clients who have lost a family member.

We accept wrongful death and other injury cases on a contingent fee basis, and we advance the costs of litigation on behalf of clients. This means that there is no fee for our firm unless and until compensation is recovered, which may be the result of a settlement or a trial verdict. Costs and amounts that are advanced are typically subtracted from a settlement or award; these matters and other matters concerning the nature of our representation are disclosed in our representation agreement.

We invite you to call our firm for a free consultation. In the interim, this page discusses a number of aspects that will be important to the families who have lost a loved one because of the actions or negligence of someone else.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case in Tennessee, and What You Should Know About a Wrongful Death Case in Tennessee?

Section 20-5-106 of the Tennessee Code Annotated (the “Tennessee Wrongful Death Statute”) provides a statutory right for a person to bring a wrongful death case. This statute provides that the right to file a claim passes from the decedent to the decedent’s spouse. If there is no spouse, the right passes to the decedent’s children, a personal representative, parents, or to others in accordance with the priorities set forth in the statute.

The Tennessee Wrongful Death Statute provides that a court can determine that a trust be established in the case of a minor or a person who is legally incompetent for proceeds that may be recovered in a wrongful death case. Further, this statute protects these beneficiaries by declaring that the funds received shall be free from the claims of creditors.

Tennessee has a relatively short wrongful death statute of limitations compared to other states (the statute of limitations is the time period in which a case must be filed against all those liable). In general, a wrongful death case must be brought within one year after the death of a person. In many other states, the statute of limitations is two years or more.

We urge families who have lost a loved one to contact our firm as soon as possible. Once we are retained, we can immediately begin working on a case, including filing a lawsuit within the statute of limitations.

How Much Can I Recover in a Wrongful Death Matter in Tennessee?

While every wrongful death case will be different, families in Tennessee are ordinarily able to recover damages and compensation for the following:

• The lost wages that otherwise would have been earned by their loved one
• Medical and related costs incurred in connection with the death (insurance companies may have a statutory lien on these costs)
• Reasonable funeral and burial expenses
• Property damages, such as the value of a totaled vehicle (which also may be subject to a statutory lien from insurance companies)
• Loss of companionship and consortium as compensation for the emotional loss of a loved one.

When we meet with you and learn about the nature of your case, we can let you know about the types of compensation to which you and your family may be entitled.

Helping to Protect Your Family’s Future – Our Representation

Often, a loved one who has died as a result of the reckless or intentional acts of someone else, may be a primary breadwinner for a family. In this case, not only will the loss of a loved one have a severe emotional impact on a family, but there will also be significant financial impacts as well.

If our firm is retained to represent you and your family, you will be represented by firm founder Mark Hurt. Mark graduated with honors from Duke Law School, and has been practicing law for nearly 30 years.

As a Johnson City wrongful death lawyer, trial attorney Mark Hurt has represented clients in state courts in Tennessee and Virginia, as well as federal court and before the United States Supreme Court. A large portion of Mark’s practice is focused on representing injured clients and the families who have lost a loved one.

Mark is known as a meticulous and experienced trial attorney with one goal – to obtain for clients full compensation for their damage and loss. As an experienced wrongful death lawyer, Mark will not hesitate to take a client’s case to trial if the defendants are unwilling to pay what they owe as part of a fair settlement.

The Types of Wrongful Death Cases that We Handle

We are available to represent families in virtually all types of wrongful death cases, including:

• Car, passenger truck, and other vehicle crashes and accidents
• Commercial truck, semi-trailer, and 18-wheeler crashes
• Motorcycle crashes
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian crashes
• Deaths caused by defective products
• Deaths caused as the result of other negligence, recklessness, and intentional acts.

We Invite You to Call Us for a Free Consultation, and To Learn About Your Rights and Options

Client Review

Mark took over my car accident case from another attorney that I fired. Mark worked hard on the case for several months to get ready for trial. Shortly before trial he got a settlement that was six times more than the offer my first lawyer tried to get me to take.

5 Star Google Review – Jerry C.