Wrongful Death

The passing of a loved one is devastating under any circumstance. It can be especially hard for families to recover when a loved one has died as a result of someone else's negligence or misconduct. In such circumstances, the deceased's survivors may decide to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. Typically, those who bring wrongful death suits are the spouses, children or parents of the deceased. Examples of events that might lead to a wrongful death claim include motor vehicle accidents, work accidents, exposure to hazardous conditions on the job, product and machinery malfunctions and medical malpractice.

A wrongful death suit seeks to compensate surviving family members for financial injury. If the action is successful, any damage award would go to the estate of the deceased and be distributed according to the deceased's will. Examples of financial injuries are loss of income, medical and funeral expenses and loss of services. In some cases, a deceased person's family can also file a claim called a survival action. A survival action is essentially a personal injury lawsuit that is intended to compensate the deceased's estate for any pain or suffering that the deceased experienced prior to his or her passing.

For more information on wrongful death and survival actions, do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.