Wrongful Death Lawyer

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things a person can go through. The grief is real. The shock is real. And the questions that come after — about bills, about your family’s future, about what happens next — can feel completely overwhelming.

If careless or reckless negligence caused your loved one’s death, Ohio law gives your family the right to seek justice and financial protection. That goes for intentional acts resulting in death as well. (Ohio Revised Code § 2125.01).

You don’t have to figure that out right now. That’s what we’re here for.

Warren Law Firm has represented Southern Ohio families in wrongful death cases for more than 20 years.

Our office is in Chillicothe, and we serve families across Ross, Scioto, Pike, Jackson, and Fayette counties — and we are opening a Portsmouth office soon to serve the Scioto County community even closer to home.

There is no cost to call us. No obligation. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and let us evaluate your options

Online case Assessment

    What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Ohio?

    Under Ohio law, a wrongful death claim exists when a person dies because of another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. (O.R. § 2125.01)

    A simple way to think about it: if your loved one could have filed a personal injury lawsuit had they survived, their family may have the right to file a wrongful death claim.

    These cases most commonly involve:

    • Fatal car and truck crashes
    • Motorcycle crashes
    • Workplace accidents and construction deaths
    • Medical malpractice
    • Dangerous property conditions (slip and falls, drowning, negligent security)
    • Toxic exposure

    Not sure if your situation qualifies? That’s exactly what a free consultation is for. You don’t need to have all the answers before you call.

    Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Ohio?

    In Ohio, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate files the wrongful death claim — but the compensation recovered is for the benefit of surviving family members, including:

    • A surviving spouse
    • Children
    • Parents
    • Other close family members in certain circumstances

    If there is no named personal representative, the court can appoint one. We help families navigate this process from the very beginning, including any estate-related steps that need to happen first.

    What Can Your Family Be Compensated For?

    Ohio law allows families to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Every family’s loss is different, but compensation may cover:

    Financial losses:

    • Funeral and burial expenses
    • Medical bills from the final injury or illness
    • Lost income and financial support your loved one would have provided
    • Loss of household services and contributions

    Personal losses:

    • Loss of companionship, guidance, and care
    • Mental anguish and grief suffered by surviving family members

    We take the time to understand not just what your family has lost financially, but what you’ve lost personally — because both matter under Ohio law.

    How Long Do You Have to File in Ohio?

    This is important: Ohio has a 2-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims under (R.C. § 2125.02). That means your family generally has two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit.

    Waiting too long — even by a single day — can permanently bar your family from recovering anything.

    Evidence also disappears quickly after an accident. Witness memories fade. Surveillance footage gets deleted. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better protected your family will be.

    Contact Warren Law Firm today — there’s no cost to speak with us

    Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Southern Ohio

    Our region’s roads, worksites, and communities present very specific risks. The wrongful death cases we handle most often involve:

    Vehicle Accidents on Southern Ohio Roads

    Highways like U.S. 23, U.S. 35 and S.R. 32 see serious and fatal crashes regularly. Common causes of vehicle collisions include:

    • Distracted driving
    • Impaired driving
    • Speeding on rural two-lane roads
    • Commercial truck driver negligence
    • Failure to yield at intersections

    Workplace Accidents

    Southern Ohio’s construction, manufacturing, and industrial worksites can be dangerous. Fatal workplace incidents often involve:

    • Construction falls
    • Toxic chemical exposure
    • Explosions and fires
    • Equipment failures

    Dangerous Property Conditions (Premise Liability)

    Property owners in Ohio have a legal duty to keep their buildings and land safe. Fatal incidents may involve:

    • Slip and fall accidents causing fatal head injuries
    • Drowning due to unsecured or unsupervised pools
    • Violent crime where poor lighting or lack of security contributed to a death

    What If My Loved One Was Partially at Fault?

    This is one of the most common questions we hear — and one of the most important.

    Ohio follows a rule called Modified Comparative Negligence. Here is what that means in plain language:

    Your family can still recover compensation even if your loved one shared some of the blame for the accident — as long as their share of fault was 50% or less.

    If a court finds your loved one was 51% or more responsible, Ohio’s “51% Bar Rule” would prevent recovery.

    Here’s a real-world example:

    A jury awards $1,000,000 in damages. They find that the deceased was 20% at fault — perhaps for not wearing a seatbelt. The family’s recovery is reduced by 20%, resulting in an $800,000 award.

    What about cases with multiple defendants?

    Fault can be shared among several parties. For example:

    Deceased #10% | Property Owner #60% | Maintenance Company #30%

    Because the deceased is under the 51% threshold, the family recovers 90% of the verdict — $900,000 in this example.

    Ohio law (R.C. § 2315.36) may also require the party found most at fault to cover economic damages if another defendant can’t pay.

    The bottom line: Don’t assume a partial-fault situation means your family has no case. Let us review the facts with you — for free.

    What Has to Be Proven in a Wrongful Death Case?

    To succeed in an Ohio wrongful death claim, the estate generally must prove four things:

    Duty — The at-fault party had a legal responsibility to act with reasonable care
    Breach — They failed to meet that standard
    Causation — That failure directly caused your loved one’s death
    Damages — Your family suffered real losses as a result

    These cases often require accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and financial analysts.

    We coordinate all of that on your behalf. There are no charges to you unless we win your case!

    Why Choose Warren Law Firm for Your Southern Ohio Wrongful Death Case?

    When a fatal accident happens, insurance companies and corporate defense lawyers begin building their case immediately. They are experienced, well-funded, and motivated to pay your family as little as possible if anything.

    You need someone in your corner who knows this area, knows these courts, southern Ohio and knows how to fight back.

    Warren Law Firm brings:

    • 20+ years of wrongful death and serious injury experience in Southern Ohio
    • Deep familiarity with Ross County, Scioto County, Pike County, Jackson County and Fayette County courts, court personnel and judges.

    A proven process for:

    • Exhaustive investigations of their cases include interviewing witnesses, thorough examination of the injury scene, preserving evidence, working with experts, researching precedence and building a winning case for each client.
    • Direct and honest communication — we explain everything in plain language, never legalese
    • No fees unless we win — you pay nothing out of pocket unless we get you compensation. Since more than 98% of our cases are successful, we expect nothing short of winning every case.

    You are more than clients to us. You are our neighbors.
    We live and work in this community. We understand the roads, the local economy, and what it means for a Southern Ohio family to lose a provider, a parent, or a spouse.

    “Trust the Lawyers Who Drive the Same Roads You Do.”

    Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Ohio

    Every case is different. The value depends on factors like the deceased’s age, income, number of dependents, and the specific circumstances of the death. Cases involving young children or significant lost income tend to result in higher compensation. We can give you an honest, realistic assessment of your situation during a free consultation — with no pressure and no obligation.

    Ohio law gives families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit (O § 2125.02). There are very limited exceptions, but they apply to a small minority of cases. Do not assume you have more time than you do. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your family from recovering anything — regardless of how strong your case is.

    As soon as possible — and here’s why it matters more than most people realize.

    Evidence disappears quickly after a fatal accident. Surveillance footage gets deleted. Physical evidence gets cleared away. Witnesses move, become difficult to locate, or simply forget critical details over time. Acting early protects your case.

    It also means your case can be resolved sooner. If your family is dealing with unpaid medical or hospital bills, or if your loved one was the primary breadwinner and your household income is suddenly gone or severely reduced, we can often pursue interim compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company to help bridge that financial gap while your case moves forward.

    Yes, in many situations. Ohio follows a rule called Modified Comparative Negligence. Your family can still recover compensation as long as your loved one was 50% or less responsible for the incident. If their share of fault was 51% or more, Ohio’s law would bar recovery entirely. Don’t assume partial fault means no case — let us review the specific facts with you at no cost.

    These are two separate legal claims, and both may apply to your situation.

    A wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family members for their losses — things like lost income, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.

    A survival action compensates the deceased person’s estate for what they personally experienced between the injury and their death — including pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages during that period.

    Both claims can often be filed together, and we evaluate both in every case we take.

    Every case is unique, and there are no guarantees in litigation. What we can tell you is this: Warren Law Firm has a case success rate of over 98% — and we work hard to maintain that standard on every single case we accept.

    On the rare occasion we don’t win — fewer than 2 out of every 100 cases — you walk away owing us absolutely nothing.

    Most wrongful death cases are resolved through settlement negotiations, without ever going to trial. However, if an insurance company refuses to offer your family fair compensation, we are fully prepared to take your case in the courthouse steps and fight for what you deserve.

    One important thing to know: you are the ultimate decision maker. We will give you our honest recommendations every step of the way, but the final call is always yours.

    Yes. A civil wrongful death claim and a criminal case are entirely separate legal proceedings. A criminal case is brought by the state and punishes the wrongdoer. A civil wrongful death claim is brought by your family and pursues financial compensation for your losses. One does not prevent the other, and a criminal conviction — or even a guilty plea — can actually strengthen your civil case. We can walk you through how both processes may apply to your situation.

    Nothing upfront — ever. We represent wrongful death families on a contingency fee basis, which means we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for your family. Your first consultation is always free and completely confidential. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

    Still have questions? Call us. There’s no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.

    Warren Law Firm — Chillicothe, Ohio | Serving Southern Ohio for 20+ years

    Warren Law Firm is based in Chillicothe, Ohio and proudly serves families in:

    • Portsmouth (new office coming soon)
    • Waverly
    • Jackson
    • Washington Court House
    • And communities throughout Ross, Scioto, Pike, Jackson, and Fayette Counties, and All of Southern Ohio

    Take the First Step — We’ll Handle the Rest

    You are dealing with enough. You shouldn’t have to figure out the legal system alone while you’re grieving.

    A call to Warren Law Firm costs you nothing. There’s no pressure, no obligation, and no legal jargon. Just honest answers from experienced Southern Ohio attorneys who genuinely care about what happens to your family.

    Call Now for Your Free Consultation/ Or send us a message — we’ll respond promptly – Warren Law Firm — Chillicothe, Ohio

    Featured image courtesy Pavel Danilyuk, inset by Photo by Ivan S

    “Trust the Lawyers Who Drive the Same Roads You Do.”