An unexpected death is always a tragedy. However, when someone dies due to another person’s fault or negligence, the survivors can bring a wrongful death lawsuit with a wrongful death attorney’s help. The purpose of doing so is to compensate the bereaved family members and recover the monetary damages such as lost wages, lost companionship, medical bills, and funeral expenses.
A wrongful death lawsuit is different from criminal charges; hence, the cases are settled in civil courts, and criminal courts handle the homicide charges (if any are ever even brought). The victim’s family members can sue any person with the help of a wrongful death attorney who they deem as responsible for their loved one’s death.
This article will thoroughly walk you through the various types of damages available to the victim’s family members in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Types of Monetary Compensations
There are various types of damages that you can apply after an accident caused by another person’s wrongdoing. Subsequently, you may be entitled to receive compensation from the at-fault party for the damages you experienced. The five most common types of compensation include;Medical Bills & Burial Expenses
Suppose your loved one loses his life in an accident caused by another person’s negligence or fault. In that case, you may recover the medical expenses along with the funeral cost with the help of a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney. All the medical costs, which were a direct result of the accident, shall be taken care of by the person at fault. In order to recover the medical expenses, you will have to submit evidence of the cost, including the medical bills, proof of payment, and other related documents to your wrongful death attorney. Not just the medical expenses but the funeral and burial expenditures are also recovered fully. If you are looking for a qualified and well-versed personal injury attorney, please visit the best Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys at Kirakosian Law.Lost Wages
The plaintiff can claim lost wages that their loved one would have received had they not been the victim of the wrongful death accident and be entitled to receive significant compensation with a qualified wrongful death attorney. At times, the deceased’s whole family members are dependent on the person’s income; hence, it makes the circumstances worse for the bereaved family members. The loss of the victim’s expected earnings makes a bad situation worse for the survivors. Therefore, it is critical to obtain professional personal injury attorney’s services to help the family continue with their lives.Pain & Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering fall in the domain of non-economic damages and are considered less tangible; however, these non-economic damages, at times, have more value than the economic damages. Loss of love, care, guidance, protection, advice, training, and companionship counts big time, and a trained wrongful death attorney is able to help you get compensation for these non-economic damages. Spouses and partners, children, and parents are also expected to be compensated for the consortium’s loss. In wrongful death cases, many jurisdictions in the United States award pain and suffering damages to the victim’s family members. Pain and suffering and several other non-economic damages which are awarded by courts have been pretty much common in the US.Loss of Inheritance
You may be entitled to a loss of inheritance claim if a loved one has lost his life due to someone’s negligence. The calculation of this type of loss is intricate and hard to crack for a layperson; hence, it becomes crucial for you to avail the services of an adept wrongful death attorney. The damage for loss of inheritance is typically calculated as the asset’s present value that would reasonably have added to the beneficiaries’ estate. In some states, the plaintiff is required by law to show some evidence from which the estate’s worth could be calculated. Besides these five potential damages that can lead to monetary compensation, you may also recover the wrongful death attorney’s fee and cost incurred in bringing the lawsuit in some states.Pain & Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering fall in the domain of non-economic damages and are considered less tangible; however, these non-economic damages, at times, have more value than the economic damages. Loss of love, care, guidance, protection, advice, training, and companionship counts big time, and a trained wrongful death attorney is able to help you get compensation for these non-economic damages. Spouses and partners, children, and parents are also expected to be compensated for the consortium’s loss. In wrongful death cases, many jurisdictions in the United States award pain and suffering damages to the victim’s family members. Pain and suffering and several other non-economic damages which are awarded by courts have been pretty much common in the US.Loss of Inheritance
You may be entitled to a loss of inheritance claim if a loved one has lost his life due to someone’s negligence. The calculation of this type of loss is intricate and hard to crack for a layperson; hence, it becomes crucial for you to avail the services of an adept wrongful death attorney. The damage for loss of inheritance is typically calculated as the asset’s present value that would reasonably have added to the beneficiaries’ estate. In some states, the plaintiff is required by law to show some evidence from which the estate’s worth could be calculated. Besides these five potential damages that can lead to monetary compensation, you may also recover the wrongful death attorney’s fee and cost incurred in bringing the lawsuit in some states.Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are known as extra funds that the defendant is ordered by the court to pay to the victim’s family. They are made to pay when the actions of person at fault are deemed to be incredibly reckless or if there is evil intent in the wrongdoing. In wrongful death cases, damages are rewarded to the victim’s family to ensure that they are compensated for the difficulties they face after their loved one’s death. Some of the cases in which punitive damages are likely to be awarded include;- If doctors deliberately change medical records to conceal their mistakes
- Ignorance of large corporations regarding potentially defective or harmful products
- An accident caused by a drunk or reckless driver
- Caretakers’ intentional negligence causing the death of a resident