Losing someone in a sudden death is both frightening and unsettling.  Deep emotional stress and confusion surrounds the first few hours and days after a loss. Knowing what to do and being prepared can benefit you immensely during this troubled time.

First Things First

• Notify Police
• Officers may leave written information with details about the prosecutor, medical examiner, place of hospital for the deceased and a victims advocate.
• A family member might be asked to identify the body of the deceased
• Personal belongings of your loved one might be used as evidence for later in the prosecution. If you wish to claim any of the items, tell the officer leading the case.
• A forensic autopsy might be required to gather evidence
• After the identification and autopsy, the medical examiner will arrange transportation of the body to the funeral home the family has selected.

Incident Information Report includes the following:

• Case number
• Date and Time of incident
• Name of officer investigating the incident along with the officer’s contact information
• Name of the officer who will be contacting the family of the victim
• Name of the coroner and their contact information
• Location of the Deceased and contact information for the

If you feel the urge to ask, to get more information, or be more involved during the process of the investigation, don’t hesitate to ask. You are not alone, and you shouldn’t scared to ask the officers or departments of those who are working with your case.

In the mean time, you will need to contact a funeral home to make the arrangements for the service. A funeral director will work with the family to coordinate the service with the needs of the family. They will likely ask for the specifics from an autopsy, if one is performed, and whether or not an open or closed casket will be proper.
The funeral director will also be able to answer any questions you have about transportation of the body to and from the funeral home.

When someone dies as the result of a crime, the police as well as a coroner might be involved.  When the death turns into a criminal investigation, the proceedings for this can take some time. Working with your local law enforcement will help to keep you involved and informed during the investigation.

When an unexpected death occurs, the family and loved ones are caught off guard. Not knowing what to do or where to turn can fuel the fire of grief and confusion. We have accumulated critical information for the families that are dealing with the passing of a loved one, to help you through the process.

An unexpected death brings uncertainty and often requires an autopsy to determine the cause of death. When an autopsy is preformed, it will usually take place on the same day or the day after.

Viewing the body of the deceased before an autopsy may be possible in certain circumstances, yet there are times when the family is not able to until after the autopsy has taken place for forensic purposes. If this is the case, the body will be released to the funeral home after the autopsy.

While this process can be frustrating, it is a necessary action that needs to take place in the event of an unexpected death. Take comfort in knowing that the funeral home and funeral director will work through this process with you to help heal the pain and sadness during this difficult time.

When a loved one dies, life suddenly becomes very confusing and frustrating. On top of the grief, emotions and sadness, you now are in the process of planning and arranging a funeral service. This time may be extremely overwhelming, and often times many issues might be overlooked because of the rush.

We are here to help. We have outlined a few topics that are very important when it comes to a sudden death by the way of  automobile accidents.

When a fatality has occurred in a car accident, an incident report is created by officials. It will contain very important information.

Some of the details included will be:

• Case Number
• Date and Time of Incident
• Name of Information of the Investigating Officer
• Officer notifying family members
• Coroner’s Information
• The location of the deceased
• Police hold and location of vehicle

You will be given information about the location of your loved one. Depending on the severity of the situation, there are different routes that might be taken.

Typically the body is transported to the coroner who was at the scene. If an autopsy is necessary, the body of the deceased may be transported to a pathologist.

If an autopsy is necessary, the coroner or county attorney will be able to make arrangements for the family members to view the deceased body before the autopsy. Once the arrangements and autopsy are preformed, the body is then transported to the funeral home.

When dealing with an automobile accident, the vehicle will probably contain personal belongings. The towing company can remove them for you, or a family member might be able to retrieve them. If  law enforcement has put a hold on the vehicle, there might be  a delay in the process.

Continue reading “How to Handle an Automobile Casualty” »