No one can tell you how to grieve the sudden, unexpected loss of your loved one. Since you learned of the tragic accident that took your family member’s life, you have likely replayed the scene over and over in your mind. Perhaps your loved one survived the initial impact of his or her accident but was pronounced dead before you arrived at the scene. It can be nearly impossible to think beyond your shock and grief in such situations.
In fact, you may have days where you think you will never recover. Others in Louisiana who have experienced similar losses have found that healing may come slowly, but it is often possible if you know what to expect and where to turn for help.
When a single moment changes your life, forever
Bereavement is never an easy process; however, when you were going about your normal daily tasks one minute, and the next, you were hearing that your spouse, child or parent was gone, the whole world may have felt as though it was slipping out from underneath your feet. The following ideas may help you better understand the sudden death grieving process and can also point you in the right direction if you choose to seek outside support:
- Emotions are neither right nor wrong: There’s no one way to feel as you face the sudden loss of a beloved family member. You may have good days and bad days, and your emotions may fluctuate from sorrow and confusion to anger and frustration. It’s crucial to your healing to acknowledge your emotions and seek help if you are unable to process your feelings.
- Tap into available resources: You may find it helpful to request a meeting with your local minister or another faith leader in your community. Some people also turn to licensed counselors to help process their grief. If taking proactive, tangible steps to recover your losses is one of your priorities, you can discuss your situation with someone well-versed in personal injury law to learn more about filing a wrongful death claim in court.
- Lean on friends and family: If your children are grieving the loss of a parent, you may take comfort in knowing you are all striving for healing together. As you grieve the loss of your spouse, it may help you to reach out to your kids and guide them through their own mourning process as well.
You may find that, in time, you start to feel a little better each day. As time goes on, you may also want to talk about seeking justice on your loved one’s behalf, especially if a drunk driver or other negligent party caused an accident that might have otherwise been prevented.
Timing matters
In Louisiana and elsewhere, there are typically limitation statutes in place regarding how much time may pass between a fatal accident and filing a claim in court. To seek clarification of such issues, you can turn to an experienced personal injury attorney for guidance.
