If a loved one passes away due to someone else’s negligence, you can often seek financial compensation. This is similar to a personal injury case, and it may even include some of the same costs and damages.
At the same time, though, a wrongful death suit may involve many issues that would not come up in a standard PI case. So what types of damages can you actually seek?
Common examples after a wrongful death
Naturally, every case is going to be a bit different, but the following are a few areas to consider. You may deserve compensation for:
- Medical services that were provided before the person passed away
- A loss of immediate income and future earnings, especially if the person who passed away was the main breadwinner for the family
- The loss of parental guidance for children and young people
- A loss of consortium for that individual’s spouse
- Funeral and burial costs after the person passes away
- Pain and suffering or emotional trauma suffered by family members or the individual before they passed away
It is very important to consider the long-term impact on the family. Children may no longer have a parent to turn to. The family may no longer have the income that they expected, especially if the other spouse was a stay-at-home parent. The immediate costs after the accident resulting in the fatal injury do need to be addressed, but you also need to look at the big picture and see how life is going to change moving forward.
At a time like this, it can be very important to work with an experienced law firm to explore all of your legal options.