What are wrongful death damages?

Wrongful death legal protections are important for family members who have lost a loved one in a fatal accident to understand. A wrongful death claim for damages is an important legal remedy and resource that may be able to help loved ones coping with the unexpected loss of a loved one.

What is a wrongful death claim?

A wrongful death legal claim can be brought for the benefit of surviving family members whose loved one has been wrongfully killed because of the negligence of another person such as a negligent driver or negligent property owner. The wrongful death claim for damages is brought by the estate of the lost loved one for the benefit of surviving family members.

What are wrongful death damages?

Wrongful death damages can help surviving family members with some of their financial and emotional damages following a fatal accident that claimed their loved one. Wrongful death damages are specific to the characteristics of the victim and the circumstances but can generally include compensation for loss of support and services, lost companionship, lost-earning capacity and loss of inheritance and medical and funeral expenses.

Because wrongful death damages depend on the character of the victim and the circumstances, the victim’s character, age, condition when they were killed, life expectancy, earning capacity, health and intelligence will all be considered when calculating damages.

Professional help in pursing a wrongful death claim

When a loved one has been wrongfully killed, surviving family members may face unexpected emotional and financial challenges. For that reason, they should be familiar with legal options available to them including a wrongful death claim for damages.