In cases where a loved one passes away in an accident, family members may want to consider a wrongful death claim. They will claim that someone else caused the death through negligence or even intentional action and is thereby responsible. The family can seek compensation, similarly to a personal injury lawsuit.
If you’re in this position, you may find yourself wondering what type of compensation you can claim. Below are a few examples.
Medical expenses
First of all, even though the person eventually passed away, they could’ve incurred significant medical bills before doing so. For instance, someone may have been injured in a car accident and airlifted to a hospital before eventually passing away due to their injuries.
Lost wages and earnings
Additionally, especially if the person was the main breadwinner for their family, that family may be losing significant earnings and financial support. They may have expected that person to continue working for decades into the future, so the long-term financial losses are significant.
Mental and emotional trauma
A wrongful death can also be very hard for surviving family members, especially if they were present at the time. They may need compensation for issues like post-traumatic stress disorder or loss of consortium.
Expenses related to the death itself
Finally, any time that someone passes away, there are some expenses that the family has to cover. These could include burial expenses, funeral expenses and much more. All of these could also be included in the lawsuit.
The above is not an exhaustive list, but just a few examples to help you consider where to begin. Be sure you know what legal steps to take to seek the compensation your family deserves.
