Wrongful Death Damages: An Overview
Posted on: 11 March 2021
Losing a loved one to wrongful death is a traumatic experience, and it's one that you shouldn't have had to endure. If you have lost a loved one at the hands of someone else's negligence or deliberate actions, you may be able to file a wrongful death suit against the person responsible. However, you might wonder if it's even worth it to pursue this kind of litigation. Here's a look at some of the potential damages that you may be awarded if your case is found to have merit.
Direct Financial Damages
The direct financial damages in a wrongful death suit are fairly clear. You'll be compensated for any outstanding medical expenses incurred to treat the injuries from the incident before your loved one died, as well as any emergency services costs.
You'll also typically be compensated for the funeral and burial costs, lost wages that the deceased would have otherwise earned while in the hospital after the injury but before their death, as well as the loss of future wages based on the deceased's age, income, and remaining estimated work years.
Additionally, the direct financial damages often include additional benefits for the loss of additional retirement funds and other earnings that would have been generated if the deceased had worked for the rest of their estimated working years.
Personal Financial Damages
In addition to those direct financial damages, you may also be awarded additional funds that are considered personal financial damages. Some of the things taken into consideration with this calculation include the pain and suffering that the deceased experienced before their death, your own emotional suffering due to the loss, and additional compensation for the loss of your partner and their support role in your life.
If the deceased was the primary source of financial support in your home, and you now find yourself needing childcare to find a job, you can also seek damages to cover the additional expenses for childcare since you wouldn't have otherwise had to pay those fees.
Punitive Damages
Finally, you may also receive additional funds for punitive damages. As the name implies, these funds are intended to be a punitive charge against the responsible party. If the death was caused by deliberate, negligent, or potentially criminal actions, punitive damages are often levied as a way to punish the responsible party for their actions.
Talk with a wrongful death attorney today to discuss your personal situation and to see which of these types of damages you might be eligible for if you file a wrongful death suit on behalf of your loved one.
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