What to Do After a Loved One Has Died Due to Wrongful Death 

December 15, 2022 General

What to Do After a Loved One Has Died Due to Wrongful Death 

The loss of a loved one to a tragic accident can leave a hole in your family and result in substantial financial costs and a reduction in household income. When your loved one’s death was due to an accident or incident that was caused by another person or business entity, you may have a right to compensation through what is known as a wrongful death claim. The process can be complex, time-consuming, and especially emotional during your time of loss, and Martin Law Firm can step in on your behalf and handle the claim and all related work on your behalf.  

Common Causes of Wrongful Death

The CDC notes that unintentional injury led to more years of potential life lost than any other cause of death that happened in 2020. The leading causes of years of potential life loss are: 

  • Poisoning 
  • Motor vehicle, traffic 
  • Other injuries 
  • Drowning 
  • Suffocation 
  • Falls 

What is relevant to your ability to collect compensation through a wrongful death claim is whether or not the accident or injury that led to the death was due to the negligence of another person or business entity. 

Common examples of negligence that lead to wrongful death include: 

  • Motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted, intoxicated, and/or drowsy driving 
  • Any injuries that are caused by a party actively breaking the law or traffic statutes 
  • Premises liability, such as when a customer slips and falls in a store and experiences a back injury 
  • Defective products that result in injury, such as defective brake pads in motor vehicles or edible products that contain poison or carcinogens 

Compensation Includes Income Replacement and Other Coverage 

While no amount of money can truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, the purpose of a wrongful death settlement is to help put your family maintain financial stability after the loss. 

Wrongful death benefits generally include:

  • Income replacement – the income your loved one would have contributed through the remainder of their working life 
  • Loss of consortium or companionship – the value of their companionship and partnership for yourself and other members of your family 
  • Domestic contributions – the value of domestic contributions your household will no longer be experiencing 
  • Medical costs – any medical treatments necessary prior to your loved one’s passing 
  • Death-related expenses – including funeral and burial expenses 

This compensation is meant to place your family in as close a financial position as possible as though the wrongful death had not happened. 

Discuss Options in Your Wrongful Death Claim 

To discuss your options on your wrongful death claim through a free initial consultation with Martin Law Firm, call us at 239-323-9820, or visit our site to schedule a consultation