Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death Damages?
April 18, 2019 | Wrongful Death
When a person’s death is caused by someone else’s carelessness, a wrongful death claim can be filed by the victim’s immediate relatives to recover compensation for the family’s harm and losses. If you recently lost an immediate relative, but are unsure of who can sue for wrongful death damages, an experienced lawyer can assess the situation and determine the options available to your case for the victim’s wrongful death.
Am I Eligible to Sue for Wrongful Death Damages?
Generally, the immediate family members of a victim are eligible to sue for wrongful death damages on behalf of the deceased. Wrongful death laws are different for each state in the U.S., but the most common relatives that can file a wrongful death claim include a victim’s immediate relatives, such as their spouse, children, parents, and grandparents.
If you lost a family member in a fatal accident, and need help determining whether you can sue for wrongful death damages on behalf of the victim, an experienced lawyer can analyze the situation and figure out whether you are eligible to recover compensation. The wrongful death process can be overwhelming without adequate legal knowledge and lead to negative results for a victim’s case. If your family member has died because of another person’s negligence, you need to consult a lawyer about your case immediately. A lawyer can help you gather evidence of the other party’s negligence and develop a compelling claim to recover damages for the victim’s wrongful death.
What Damages Can I Recover by Suing for Wrongful Death?
If you are thinking about suing for wrongful death, a common dilemma that the surviving family members of victims face is knowing what type of damages they are eligible to recover. Typically, immediate relatives of a victim are eligible to sue for compensatory damages such as:
- Medical expenses that the victim faced before their death
- Reimbursement for the distress that the victim felt prior to their death
- Lost wages that were caused in the accident
- Reimbursement for property damage or other out-of-pocket expenses that occurred because of the accident
- Funeral and burial expenses
When a family member dies, it’s natural to go through a grieving period, but this can make it difficult to create a compelling claim against the negligent party. During this time, a wrongful death lawyer can offer a sense of relief to you and your family, protect the victim’s rights, and allow you and your family members to focus on grieving such a tremendous loss.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
There are countless ways that a fatal accident can happen. Whether its medical malpractice, a car accident, or a workplace accident, the process for proving wrongful death is the same. A victim’s family members must supply proof of the victim’s death, evidence of the other party’s negligence, and proof that they have suffered a loss of income, affection, or other losses because of their family member’s sudden death.
According to the CDC, there were approximately 161,374 deaths caused by unintentional injuries in 2016. The leading causes of these fatal accidents were car accidents, medical malpractice, and pedestrian accidents, all of which are entirely preventable, mostly caused by human error, and deserve compensation for the damages that they cause.
Hiring a wrongful death lawyer to represent your case is a crucial tactic in the process of suing for wrongful death damages that are often overlooked, but shouldn’t be. An experienced lawyer has the power to quickly recover full compensation for your family member’s wrongful death, protect you from the other party’s insurance agent, and ensure that justice is obtained for your family member’s wrongful death.
Speak with a Wrongful Death Lawyer About Your Case Today
No one should have to unexpectedly lose a family member, but when it does happen, it’s essential to consult an experienced lawyer, get an idea of the options available to the victim’s case, and file a claim against the responsible party to get justice for your family member’s untimely death. If you are interested in finding out whether you are eligible to sue for wrongful death damages for your relative’s untimely and terrible death, contact the Dixon Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with our Wrongful Death Lawyers.