Collecting Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
Death is an unfortunate part of life. However, each year, far too many people lose their lives prematurely due to the negligent or reckless actions of another person or group. When this type of misconduct causes a death, immediate family members may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit provides surviving family members with financial compensation for a wide range of losses.
At the law firm of Chanfrau & Chanfrau, our wrongful death attorneys have handled a wide range of accidental death cases. We are happy to advise our patients when a wrongful death case should be filed, as well as the typical damages in wrongful death cases that can benefit our Daytona Beach, FL clients.
When to File a Wrongful Death Case
For those working outside of the field of law, it can be difficult to determine when an accidental death falls under the guidelines of a “wrongful death.” If an accident and the ensuing death can be directly linked to the negligent or reckless actions of another person or party, it is highly likely that a wrongful death case should be filed. Accidents that often fall under the realm of wrongful death include the following:
- Car, truck, or motorcycle accidents
- Job site accidents
- Plane crashes
- Assault
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Product liability
If any of the above types of incidents have resulted in the death of a loved one, it is important to speak with an experienced wrongful death attorney to determine if a lawsuit should be filed. Wrongful death lawsuits can usually be filed by a surviving immediate family member, including a spouse, child, or parent of the deceased.
Damages
It is not unusual for surviving loved ones to hesitate about filing a lawsuit because they don’t want to benefit from the loss of their loved one. However, a wrongful death suit is simply about compensating those loved ones for damages they have suffered. The types of damages that are generally rewarded in a wrongful death suit include the following:
- Cost of any medical expenses that may have resulted between the accident and the time of death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The loss of wages and future wage-earning potential
- Loss of benefits, including medical and retirement
- Loss of consortium, which is the loss of companionship that may be suffered by surviving spouses or children
Our attorneys will consider the details of each wrongful death case to determine which types of losses should be pursued. We will fight to ensure that our clients are justly compensated for all damages suffered.
Contact Us
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one and are wondering if you have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit, contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of your case. The wrongful death attorneys at Chanfrau & Chanfrau have a great deal of experience representing these types of cases, and they are happy to advise you on your best course of legal action.