Losing a loved one is a profound, life-changing experience. Families who lose members unexpectedly may require months to adjust to life after the tragedy. They may also need to consider going to court in pursuit of justice.
Especially in cases where the state did not prosecute the individual or business at fault for a tragedy, those left behind may want to file a lawsuit in civil court. Wrongful death lawsuits can provide closure by validating claims that one party is at fault for a loved one’s death. They can also help by reducing the financial harm the family experiences.
What losses can people recover in wrongful death lawsuits?
1. Funeral and medical expenses
An untimely death typically generates several major expenses. Frequently, those who have medical emergencies or major accidents require emergency transportation to medical facilities. The attempt to provide life-saving care can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on the circumstances.
Families have to cover end-of-life care expenses, as well as funeral and burial costs, after a family tragedy. A wrongful death lawsuit can provide compensation for medical and funeral expenses associated with someone’s premature death.
2. Lost earning potential
People contribute to their families through their careers. Depending on their age at the time of the tragedy, they may have had decades of profitable work ahead of them.
Surviving family members can request compensation for a lifetime of lost earning potential. They can consider not just the current wages their loved one earned but what they could have earned if they had continued developing their career. Benefits, wage increases and promotions can all add to the base wages an individual may have earned if they had not died prematurely.
3. The loss of household services
Most people contribute to their families by performing unpaid household work in addition to maintaining jobs. They take care of the lawn, fix small appliances, watch children, cook meals and clean the house.
The services that people provide around the home can be worth tens of thousands of dollars annually. Particularly in scenarios where the person who died was a stay-at-home parent, determining the economic value of their unpaid household labor can be an important component of the wrongful death lawsuit.
Families may also be able to seek compensation for non-economic losses, including their mental anguish. Having help while calculating reasonable damages to pursue in a wrongful death lawsuit may make it easier for families to optimize their financial recovery after a tragedy.
It can be difficult to estimate the financial impact of losing a loved one while also dealing with grief. Families that have support may be able to hold the party at fault for their family member’s wrongful death responsible for causing the tragedy.