While there is never a good time to lose a loved one, a death in the family during the holiday season can be particularly heartbreaking. This is especially true when the death comes unexpectedly, such as through a car accident or after another traumatic incident. When the death occurs as a result of someone else’s negligence, the surviving family members may have a cause of action for wrongful death against the responsible party.
The purposes of a wrongful death action are numerous. First, individuals can hold others accountable for their actions, which can be a meaningful step in dealing with the death of a loved one. Along these same lines, family members can help ensure that the responsible party will learn from their actions, so that other individuals are not hurt or killed in the future by a similar incident.
Another key goal of a wrongful death action is to receive compensation for the loved one’s death. There can be many different kinds of damages that may be recovered, including damages based on the deceased person’s pain and suffering before death, as well as compensation to replace the deceased person’s income.
Before receiving compensation, however, individuals often must build a strong case. This means the family members must be aware of what legal elements they must prove in court and what evidence exists to support each of those elements. As for compensation, individuals must be able to demonstrate the full impact the death of the loved one will have. For instance, accountants and life-care planners can help demonstrate what the deceased person would have earned in income over the years and what the present day value of that lost income may be.
Our firm has significant experience in building strong cases when tragic incidents occur. We understand how to work with experts to demonstrate the full impact of a loved one’s death. For more information on our firm’s services, please visit our wrongful death page.
