Wrongful Death Damages
In wrongful death actions, family members may be entitled to “pecuniary” damages. The court determines the proportionate pecuniary (money) loss among the family members and orders distribution accordingly.
Pecuniary loss may include expenses incurred by the death of the victim (funeral, medical, etc.); loss of future earnings anticipated over the lifetime of the victim; benefits lost due to the victim’s death (medical insurance, pension, 401K, etc.); loss of companionship, and the care or protection lost to the survivors as a result of the death. In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the person or corporation causing the death.
Note that in wrongful death cases, the survivors are not recovering damages on behalf of the deceased. For example, the pain and suffering of the deceased would not be the basis of recovery in a wrongful death action.
If you have lost a family member and are wondering about your rights, contact one of the wrongful death attorneys in our firm. We have decades of experience in pursuing claims under wrongful death statutes.
