Wrongful Death

Little Rock Wrongful Death Lawyers

Helping Families in Arkansas with offices in little rock, Mountain Home, & Texarkana

We understand that no amount of compensation can ever make up for the death of a loved one caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, but it can ensure that you will have financial security in the years to come.

A wrongful death claim is a legal avenue to seek justice for your loved one, hold responsible parties accountable, and recover compensation to help fill the financial gap left behind by your loved one’s death. 

In addition to dealing with the emotional shock of losing a loved one, the family must deal with multiple other issues, including:

  • Funeral arrangements and the associated expenses
  • Locating assets of the deceased
  • Identifying the cause of death and the possible responsibility of a third party

Our attorneys at Collins, Collins & Ray have helped many families who suffered a loss. We can fight to make sure that you are compensated to help cover the monetary and emotional costs of losing someone close to you.

Wrongful Death Damages

Wrongful death compensation may cover funeral expenses. In some cases, damages can be awarded for non-monetary items that the surviving family members were deprived of since the death of the loved one, including companionship, comfort, support, training, guidance, and counsel.

A number of factors are considered in determining damages in a wrongful death case, including the age, condition, health, life expectancy, character, intelligence, and earning capacity of the deceased. In Arkansas, a “loss of life” claim allows you to seek compensation for the value that the deceased placed upon his or her own life. This is often difficult to prove without the help of an experienced attorney like those at Collins, Collins & Ray.

What to Do First if You Believe You Have a Wrongful Death Claim

We know that after a death occurs, your thoughts may be preoccupied with sadness and a myriad of other things. However, this is the most important time to be vigilant. Prompt investigation and preservation of evidence is key to the success of your claim. Your first step in a wrongful death case is to call Collins, Collins & Ray.

While you take the time you need to grieve, we can get to work for you. Our team will work tirelessly to investigate the circumstances of your loved one’s death, gather evidence, retain experts, and conduct depositions on your behalf. Large insurance companies may try to take advantage of you during this time, but we will aggressively safeguard your rights.

We will get to the bottom of why the fatality occurred and who is legally responsible for the incident. Once you receive what you are owed, you can begin to move on from this tragic loss.

Contact Us for Assistance with Your Wrongful Death Claim

If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, get in touch with Collins, Collins & Ray as soon as possible. We can help you hold the responsible party accountable.


Contact us if you have any questions.


Our Achievements

  • The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Lawyers

    The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers: Brian Ray 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021

  • Martindale Hubbell

    Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent: Brian Ray 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

  • Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers

    The National Trial Lawyers – Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers: Brian Ray 2021

  • Little Rock Soiree – Best Lawyers 2013

    Little Rock Soiree – Best Lawyers: Brian Ray 2013

  • Avvo – Clients' Choice Award 2012, 2017 and 2019

    Avvo – Clients' Choice Award: Brian Ray 2012, 2017 and 2019 10.0 Superb Top Rated Personal Injury 10.0 Superb Top Attorney Criminal Defense Superb Top Attorney Medical Malpractice

  • AY Magazine’s Arkansas Best Lawyers

    AY Magazine’s Arkansas Best Lawyers: Brian Ray 2020, 2021

  • National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top One Percent

    National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top One Percent: Brian Ray 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys – 10 Best Client Satisfaction

    American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys – 10 Best Client Satisfaction: Brian Ray 2014, 2015, 2016

  • Nation’s Premier Top Ten Attorney – Personal Injury – 2016

    Nation’s Premier Top Ten Attorney – Personal Injury: Brian Ray 2016

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  • Avvo Clients Choice Award

    Avvo Clients Choice Award - Brian Ray 2019

  • Avvo Top Attorney

    Avvo Rating - Top Attorney: Brian Ray

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Why should I pursue a legal claim when there is nothing that can be done to bring my loved one back?

      This is a very important question. The answer tends to be a highly personal choice. However, some common reasons may include the following:

      1. A belief that serious attention to this problem is required because the victim or surviving family member is truly concerned that someone else will be needlessly hurt if they sit back and fail to sound the alarm about a dangerous medical provider, procedure or process.
      2. Perhaps the deceased was the kind of person that would stand up and fight for what is right and the surviving family wants to honor her memory and make sure that every question about her death is given a complete medical and legal answer because that is what she would have done under the circumstances.
      3. Maybe the error was so egregious and beyond the pale that the victim or the surviving family members simply could not rest if something were not done to correct it.
      4. Sometimes people pursue such cases because of the perceived unfairness for someone to so carelessly cause so much harm without any accountability.
      5. Unfortunately, people suffering from medical negligence may be left completely in the dark because the negligent medical care provider will not be up front and communicate about the mistake. Perhaps a cover-up is suspected.
      6. Commonly, people pursue such claims because the death cut down a person in their prime earning years and their surviving family was relying on their income and support which is now lost forever due to a medical mistake.

      Whatever the motivation, the law does provide accountability for patients needlessly harmed by medical care providers that failed to meet the standard of care required.

    • What can I do if I suspect medical negligence caused the death of a loved one?

      There is always risk associated with nearly every medical treatment and procedure. Trained and licensed medical care providers must take appropriate action to minimize that risk by meeting the requirements of the applicable standard of care. When those standards are disregarded, it is the patient that needlessly suffers, often tragically. Many people benefit when contacting an experienced and well-qualified medical negligence attorney immediately.

    • Do I need an attorney to pursue a medical negligence case for wrongful death; one of the medical people already told me that a m

      Arkansas law grants surviving family members many tools to explore and evaluate whether medical negligence is the cause of serious injury or death. However, it is very difficult for most people to do this unless they come equipped with significant medical knowledge and significant legal experience. That is why it is critical to seek out legal counsel with significant experience in prosecuting and resolving such claims.

      As for the steps involved, they may be varied and complex, but there are several required in every case involving wrongful death. First, it is necessary to set up an estate on behalf of the deceased with an appropriate person to serve as the representative. The representative will need to obtain medical records, and obtain qualified legal counsel. These steps, along with many others, are necessary to establish the legal authority to investigate and prosecute the claim.

    • What is an Arkansas “loss of life” claim?

      In Arkansas, experienced attorneys pursuing wrongful death claims will also be seeking compensation for the value that the deceased placed upon his or her own life.

      This is a very specific element of damages and is often difficult to prove without careful consideration of those aspects of a person’s life that can inform such assessments.

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