Most family members who are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit want an idea of how much money in damages they can — or should — pursue. The answer to this question is difficult to pin down until the wrongful death suit progresses further into litigation. However, there generally needs to be a starting point, i.e., an initial dollar amount to be claimed in the lawsuit.
When trying to determine the amount of losses to claim, several factors could affect the figure, such as:
- The victim’s age
- The victim’s health before death
- The victim’s earning capacity
- Whether the victim was supporting a family
- The nature of the accident that caused the victim’s death
- The amount of suffering endured by the victim
- Whether the victim incurred significant medical bills prior to death
Here are the types of damages that close family members of deceased victims might be able to pursue:
- Lost income
- Funeral, burial and other end of life expenses
- Medical bills prior to death
- Lost companionship
- Lost spousal benefits
- Lost contribution to the family in the form of household, family, childcare and other services
If you lost your loved one in a tragic accident, there’s no doubt that you’re struggling to come to grips with the reality that your spouse or family member is no longer present in your life. Not only that, but navigating the legal aspects of a wrongful death suit is probably the last thing on your mind. If you’re facing a situation like this, our law firm is available to help. We will review your situation advise you of your legal rights and options and aggressively pursue a lawsuit on your behalf if the situation calls for it.