What Are Wrongful Death Damages?

One of the most difficult types of personal injury cases involves the loss of a person’s life. These wrongful death situations are tragic and traumatic, especially for the families that are left behind. When it comes to calculating wrongful death damages, many people do not fully understand what they may be able to receive. Although no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, victims may be able to get a sense of justice, as well as compensation for the emotional and financial losses they have suffered, including:

Emotional Suffering

When it comes to calculating damages, a judge or jury will always factor in the emotional suffering that the death has caused the family. This amount tends to be larger with more traumatic deaths.

Loss Of Decedent’s Earnings

Next, since the decedent is no longer alive, he or she will not be able to work and earn a living to help support the family. This could have a significant impact on surviving family members. For this reason, part of the wrongful death damages awarded will include the loss of future earnings for the individual who was killed.

Funeral Costs

In wrongful death cases, families should never have to pay funeral costs and burial expenses out of pocket after the death of a loved one. These expenses should be covered by the wrongdoer and his or her insurance company.

Medical Costs

Any of the decedent’s medical costs prior to death that resulted from the wrongdoer’s actions should be included in the damages sought by the surviving family.

In addition to these common losses, a judge or jury will also take into account any other losses that were incurred to determine the total amount of wrongful death damages. Call (305) 446-6485 (toll free 800-446-6482) now if your loved one was killed in an accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person or business entity. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Friedman & Friedman offer a FREE consultation in wrongful death cases.