What Can You Claim as Compensation for Wrongful Death?
It’s true that financial compensation doesn’t even begin to make things the same. The purpose of wrongful death compensation is to put the family in the same financial position that they would have been in if they hadn’t lost their family member. When you lose a loved one unexpectedly, you likely have final medical bills and funeral expenses. A wrongful death lawsuit can seek recovery for those expenses.
Also, a wrongful death suit can also seek compensation for lost income. If a victim has children, they likely rely on their parent for financial support. Bringing a wrongful death claim can help support the victim’s children, pay for college expenses, and otherwise help the children secure their future. If the children need services like child care, transportation or direct care because of the loss of their parent, these types of expenses can be included in the claim.
Funeral expenses and lost income are economic damages. A wrongful death claim can also compensate loved ones for emotional anguish and mental suffering. Even though financial compensation can’t make it the same, it can provide some justice and relief for the victim’s family. You may also qualify to claim punitive damages if the responsible party behaves in an egregious way that they should have known could lead to a tragic death.