What Damages Are Available for Me from a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?entry-title

Overcoming Relentless Emotional Turmoil After A Loved One's Death

When a loved one dies, emotional trauma can arrive and affect an entire family and each of its members. A death in the family can also cause extreme financial hardship, and it can leave family members at a loss for what to do next. California laws have been enacted in order to decrease these struggles for families, especially when a person or other party is found legally responsible for your loved one’s death. It’s crucial that you and your family know the different types of compensation (also known as damages) that are available in wrongful death lawsuits.

What Are the Different Categories of Damages in a Wrongful Death Suit?

There are two general categories of damages in a wrongful death case.  The two categories are called economic damages and non-economic damages.

The first category involves the loss of financial support, household services and loss of benefits or gifts that the deceased would have provided.  This category also involves burial expenses paid by the family.

The second category of damages involves the loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, moral support and affection that the family member suffered.  This category also involves the loss of training and guidance that the deceased would have provided to the family.

These categories of damages are designed to compensate the family for any financial losses, and they are intended to replace the value of money the deceased would have earned were it not for his or her death (lost wages). Loss of consortium can also be included in this damages category, which is where a spouse or immediate family member is deprived of the deceased’s love and companionship.

Most of the time, wrongful death damages are rewarded to spouses, children or parents of the deceased. If you are interested in filing a wrongful death lawsuit and would like to recover damages, we can help. Steve Gnau has extensive wrongful death case experience, and he will help represent you in court. Just contact our office today for a free consultation.