Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you recently experienced the death of someone you love, and that death was caused by the negligence of an entity or another person, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These lawsuits are meant to compensate you and other survivors for certain losses experienced as a result of the death. Each state allows different damages to be sought by surviving family members, but the following are some examples of general damages often sought.
Economic Damages
There may be many individuals suffering economically because of the death of your loved one. Perhaps it was your spouse who died, and he or she was the sole breadwinner for the family. Maybe you both had jobs, but you relied on health insurance offered through the deceased’s employer. Perhaps you were separated from your spouse, but you and your children received child support and spousal support payments each month. As you can see, these financial losses could severely impact your life. Some common economic damages you might be able to seek include:
- Medical expenses related to the death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of the deceased’s future earnings
- Loss of pension plans, medical coverage, etc.
- Loss of inheritance
Non-Economic Damages
In the case of any death, there will generally be a great deal of non-economic damages. Although they aren’t quantifiable, they often hold more value than the economic damages you’ll experience. Whether the deceased was your spouse, your child, your parent or your sibling, it’s probably going to be hard to deal with. Some common non-economic damages you could seek include:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship or love
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of guidance or advice
- Loss of training, nurturing or protection
Punitive Damages
Some states do not allow punitive damages for wrongful death lawsuits, but there are a few that do, depending on the circumstances. If you are awarded punitive damages, it’s not necessarily compensation for anything. Rather, the court has decided the defendant needs to be punished further by having to pay a larger sum of money. You benefit, the defendant is punished and the whole community is shown a lesson that negligent behavior will not be tolerated.
Getting Your Lawyer Involved
Wrongful death can take many twists and turns, and it may help to have a lawyer involved. Contact a wrongful death lawyer, like Patterson Bray, today to learn more about your specific case and what you can do to receive compensation for what you’ve been put through.