Losing someone you love is hard enough. Losing them because a driver, employer, property owner, or medical provider failed to act responsibly leaves families in Parma with grief, unanswered questions, and often serious financial strain. Since 1918, the attorneys at Steuer, Escovar & Coleman Co. LPA have helped Ohio families hold negligent parties accountable through wrongful death claims, and we bring that same century of experience to families throughout Parma and the surrounding Cuyahoga County communities. You do not have to figure out Ohio’s wrongful death laws while planning a funeral. Call (216) 771-8121 for a consultation, or reach us through our contact page. We will listen first, then explain your options in plain language.

A Century of Advocacy for Ohio Families, Minutes From Parma

Founded more than 100 years ago, our firm is among the oldest in Greater Cleveland, and our attorneys bring over 120 years of combined legal experience to every case. Parma families choose us because we pair the resources and courtroom skill of a large firm with the personal attention of a small one. When you call, you speak with people who know your case, return your calls promptly, and keep you informed at every stage.

What that means for your family:

  • ⚖️ Direct access to your attorneys, not a rotating cast of case managers
  • 🔍 A complete investigation of how and why your loved one died, including accident reconstruction and expert consultation when needed
  • 📋 Handling of every probate court filing, from appointing a personal representative to obtaining settlement approval
  • 🤝 Aggressive negotiation backed by a genuine willingness to try the case before a Cuyahoga County jury
  • 💬 A free consultation and honest answers, starting with our frequently asked questions

How Wrongful Death Claims Work Under Ohio Law

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2125 gives surviving family members a legal path to compensation when a death is caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default that would have entitled the victim to file a personal injury claim had they lived. The claim is filed by the personal representative of the estate for the benefit of the surviving spouse, children, parents, and other next of kin.

Compensation in an Ohio wrongful death case may include:

  • Loss of the financial support your loved one would have provided
  • Loss of services, such as childcare, household work, and caregiving
  • Loss of society, including companionship, consortium, care, guidance, and counsel
  • Mental anguish suffered by the surviving family
  • Loss of prospective inheritance
  • Funeral and burial expenses

A separate survival action can also recover the losses your loved one personally endured before death, including medical expenses and conscious pain and suffering. In most cases, Ohio’s statute of limitations gives families two years from the date of death to file, so it is important to act while evidence and witness memories are still fresh.

Fatal Accidents We See in the Parma Area

As the largest suburb in Cuyahoga County, Parma sees heavy daily traffic along I-480, I-77, Ridge Road, State Road, Pearl Road, Broadview Road, and Brookpark Road, corridors where serious and fatal collisions happen far too often. Our wrongful death practice grows out of our broader personal injury work, and we handle fatal cases arising from:

  • 🚗 Car, motorcycle, and pedestrian collisions on Parma’s busiest roads and interstates
  • 🚛 Commercial truck crashes on I-480 and I-77
  • 🏭 Workplace and industrial accidents, often pursued alongside workers’ compensation death benefits for the family
  • 🏥 Medical negligence at area hospitals and care facilities
  • ⚠️ Dangerous property conditions, from unsafe premises to negligent security
  • 🔧 Defective products and equipment

Every category above involves different insurance policies, defendants, and deadlines. Part of our job is identifying every source of recovery, because families are often surprised to learn that more than one party shares responsibility.

What to Expect When You Work With Us

We know most families have never hired a lawyer before, let alone under these circumstances. Here is how the process typically unfolds:

We Listen

Your free consultation is a conversation, not a sales pitch. Tell us what happened and what your family is facing. We will give you a straightforward assessment of your legal options.

We Investigate

Our team gathers police and coroner reports, medical records, employment records, witness statements, and physical evidence, and consults experts where the facts require it.

We Handle the Probate Steps

We assist with appointing the personal representative through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court and manage the estate-side requirements a wrongful death claim demands.

We Pursue Full Compensation

We present a fully documented claim to the responsible insurers and negotiate from strength. If they will not offer what your family deserves, we file suit in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and prepare for trial.

We Finish the Job

If the case settles, we obtain the required probate court approval and make sure proceeds are properly distributed among the beneficiaries under Ohio law.

Other Ways Our Firm Can Help Your Family

A sudden death rarely creates only one legal problem. Our firm handles related matters that often arise alongside a wrongful death claim:

  • 🚑 Personal Injury — representation for family members injured in the same accident, including car crashes, falls, medical malpractice, and defective products
  • ⚖️ Workers’ Compensation — death benefits and claims for families of workers killed or injured on the job
  • 💰 Social Security — guidance on survivor and disability benefits available through the Social Security system
  • 💔 Wrongful Death — our statewide wrongful death practice, with more than 120 combined years of experience

You can learn more about our history on the firm overview page, browse our legal blog for practical guidance, or view the full communities we serve across Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Medina, Geauga, and Summit counties.

Visiting Our Office From Parma

Our office is located at 14701 Detroit Ave., Suite 455, Lakewood, OH 44107, roughly a 20-minute drive from most Parma neighborhoods via I-480 West and OH-237/McKinley Avenue, or straight up Ridge Road toward the lakefront. If travel is difficult for your family, ask about phone and remote consultations when you call (216) 771-8121.

Turn-by-turn Google Maps directions from communities near Parma:

Wrongful Death Questions Parma Families Ask

1. Who is allowed to bring a wrongful death claim in Parma, Ohio?

Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2125, a wrongful death claim is filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate. The claim is brought for the benefit of the surviving spouse, children, and parents, who are presumed to have suffered damages, as well as other next of kin who can show a loss. Our attorneys can help your family have a personal representative appointed through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court if one has not yet been named.

2. How long does my family have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Ohio?

In most cases, Ohio law allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Certain circumstances can shorten or extend that window, and claims against government entities often involve additional notice requirements. Because evidence fades quickly, we encourage Parma families to speak with an attorney well before any deadline approaches.

3. What compensation can we recover in a wrongful death case?

Ohio law permits recovery for the losses your family has actually suffered, including loss of financial support, loss of services, loss of the companionship, care, and guidance of your loved one, mental anguish, loss of prospective inheritance, and funeral and burial expenses. A separate survival action may also recover damages the deceased person experienced before passing, such as medical bills and conscious pain and suffering.

4. What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?

A wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family for their own losses caused by the death. A survival action belongs to the estate and covers the harm the deceased person suffered between the injury and death. The two claims are often pursued together in the same lawsuit, and our attorneys evaluate both in every case we handle.

5. Will our case have to go to trial?

Many wrongful death cases resolve through negotiated settlements, often after a thorough investigation makes the strength of the claim clear to the insurance company. That said, we prepare every case as if it will be tried, and we will not hesitate to take your case before a Cuyahoga County jury if a fair settlement is not offered. Any settlement of a wrongful death claim must also be approved by the probate court, and we guide families through that step.

6. How much does it cost to talk to a wrongful death lawyer?

Your consultation with our firm is free, and there is no obligation. We will listen to what happened, explain your family’s legal options, and clearly walk you through fee arrangements before you decide anything, so you never face financial surprises during an already difficult time. Call (216) 771-8121 or toll-free at (800) 369-8121.

7. Where would a Parma wrongful death case be filed?

Most wrongful death lawsuits arising in Parma are filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in downtown Cleveland, while estate matters, including appointment of the personal representative and settlement approval, go through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court. Our attorneys have spent decades practicing in these courts and handle every filing on your family’s behalf.

Talk to a Parma Wrongful Death Attorney Today, Free of Charge

Your family deserves answers, accountability, and the financial security your loved one would have wanted for you. Time limits apply to every wrongful death claim in Ohio, and critical evidence can disappear within weeks of a fatal accident. Call (216) 771-8121 or (800) 369-8121 toll free, or send us a message through our online contact form. The consultation is free, and we are ready to listen.

CONTACT US TODAY