Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Wrongful Death lawsuits are generally filed by the decedent’s survivors (immediate family – spouses, children, parents) in order to generate compensation for the losses they, and other family members, experience. These losses can include medical expenses prior to the death, the loss of income and funeral expenses.

Additionally, someone unrelated to the decedent who experiences a financial hardship as a result of their death also has the right to bring forth a Wrongful Death claim.

For example, if the decedent was financially supporting or caring for someone, and that person experiences financial suffering from losing that care and support, they may be entitled to file a Wrongful Death claim.

One factor that can alter who can file a Wrongful Death claim is whether or not the decedent had a will. If a will exists, and there is a named executor of that will, generally the court will appoint that person to bring forth the claim on behalf of everyone else who has been affected by the death.

1. Causation
   There must be proof of a direct correlation between the actions of the defendant and the death, whether or not the law has been broken. Simply breaking the law is not enough to prove the defendant is at fault for causing the actual death.
2. Duty of Care
   The plaintiff must prove that the defendant had an obligation to maintain certain levels of safety prior to the death. For example, in a medical malpractice case involving the administration of medicine the decedent had a known allergy to, the plaintiff must prove the defendant (the hospital) had a duty to take all precautions with regard to medical needs, including allergies. This could include thoroughly examining the patient’s records to learn of known allergies.
3. Breach of Duty of Care
   With regard to the example above, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant failed to adhere to the required duties of thoroughly examining the patient’s records prior to administrating a medicine that was a known allergy.

There are generally three types of damages that are awarded on Wrongful Death cases. These are economic damages, non-economic damages and punitive damages.

Economic damages are awarded to compensate the survivors for any financial contributions the decedent would have made if they had not died. These can include:

• Medical expenses related to the death
• Funeral expenses
• Lost wages that would have gone to support family members
• Loss of medical coverage
• Loss of pension plans
• The loss of an inheritance that became void by the death

Non-economic damages are the damages awarded to the survivors that have no inherent dollar value, but are given a dollar value in order to compensate for the loss (as best as possible). These damages can include:

• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Compensation for emotional distress
• Compensation for the loss of care and companionship

If you’ve experienced the death of a loved one as a result of someone else’s misconduct or negligence, you probably want to look into your options for filing a Wrongful Death case.

Due to the deadlines established by the courts for filing a Wrongful Death lawsuit, it is advised to contact a reputable, experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your potential case.