Wrongful death legal protections can help protect a grieving spouse from the emotional and financial harm they have suffered following the wrongful death of their spouse. It is important for loved ones who have wrongfully lost a loved one to be familiar with how wrongful death legal options can hold negligent parties accountable and help them with the damages they have suffered.
Wrongful death legal damages
Wrongful death damages depend on the characteristics of the victim and circumstances but can generally include several different categories of damages. A wrongful death claim can help surviving family members with damages including:
- Funeral and medical expenses: a wrongful death claim for damages may be able to help with medical and funeral expenses left to surviving family members.
- Loss of support and services: a wrongful death claim for damages may be able to help surviving family members with the loss of support and services they have lost as a result of the loss of their loved one.
- Lost wages and lost prospect of inheritance: a wrongful death claim for damages may be able to help surviving family members with lost earnings of their loved one and lost prospect of inheritance.
- Loss of companionship: a wrongful death claim for damages may be able to help surviving family members with the harm associated with the loss of companionship of their loved one.
Who can claim damages?
Wrongful death damages may be available to spouses, children and parents of lost loved ones wrongfully killed by a negligent driver, negligent medical care provider or negligent property owner. A wrongful death claim is brought by the estate of the lost loved one for the benefit of their surviving family members which is a legal protection essential for surviving family members to be familiar with.