Wrongful Death Compensation

Mark Clore · August 16 2011 Wrongful death is when another party's actions result in death. Since the victim is deceased, any settlement or court award granted in a wrongful death case goes to the estate of the deceased and can be transferred from person to person if the will directs the executor to do so. Wrongful death lawsuits are easily recognized when caused by accidents involving car, trucks, vans, ATV or buses. When death is caused by a defective product or toxic exposure, the victim is often passed of beyond treatment before they know they were injured. Consult an experienced attorney if you lost a loved one to better understand wrongful death laws.

Death Related Compensation

The first type of compensation is related to the victim of the death. Wrongful death lawyers can get their clients compensation for several issues related to the death of a loved one, including:

• Medical expenses
• Hospital expenses
• Funeral costs
• Deceased's pain and suffering prior to death

Wrongful Death Compensation for Family Members

The second type of compensation is related to the survivors of the victim and are intended to provide for future financial implication of the wrongful death. Compensation may also be awarded for issues affecting the family members, including:

• Companionship
• Financial support
• Parental support
• Mental distress
• Emotional pain
• Loss of wages

In a few states, the plaintiff can request punitive damages when malicious wrongdoing is a factor. Most states do not allow punitive damages. To find out if punitive damages are a possibility in your state, you should speak with a wrongful death attorney at the Clore law Group.