{"id":353552,"date":"2017-08-23T11:08:09","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T16:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-lawsuit-settlements-averages-and-outliers.html"},"modified":"2024-01-17T11:34:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T16:34:57","slug":"wrongful-death-lawsuit-settlements-averages-and-outliers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-lawsuit-settlements-averages-and-outliers.html","title":{"rendered":"Wrongful Death Lawsuit Settlements: Averages and Outliers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Wrongful Death Lawsuit Settlements: Averages and Outliers<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/amy-vandervort-clark-j-d\/\">Amy Vandervort-Clark, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/katrina-wilson-esq\/\">Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            January 17, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>When you sue for wrongful death, you may be presented with the option to settle your claim instead of going to court. Both parties negotiate the settlement. Many factors go into the calculation of settlements in wrongful death lawsuits.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The sudden loss of a loved one is devastating. It&#8217;s difficult to quantify a loss like this in monetary terms.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, a specific area of the law allows compensation to the surviving family of someone wrongfully or negligently killed. This award represents the &#8220;value&#8221; of that person&#8217;s life and their contributions to the family.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This article will discuss more about the average\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-faq.html\">wrongful death<\/a> settlement. Keep in mind that settling may or may not be in your best interest. A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/wrongful-death-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrongful death lawyer<\/a> can use their experience and the facts of your case to help you decide whether to settle and how to negotiate the outcome.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?<\/h2>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-overview.html\">wrongful death case<\/a>, a person has died as the result of a negligent or wrongful act, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intentional homicide<\/li>\n<li>Accident<\/li>\n<li>Injury<\/li>\n<li>Medical malpractice<\/li>\n<li>Negligence of another person<\/li>\n<li>Product liability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>State wrongful death statutes allow a decedent&#8217;s surviving family members or representatives to file a lawsuit on their behalf. These statutes are civil laws.\u00a0 Families of homicide victims may bring wrongful death lawsuits in civil court. These are independent from criminal justice proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s difficult and often uncomfortable to assign economic value to a lost loved one. But many surviving spouses and family members are financially vulnerable after an unexpected death. Many find themselves solely responsible for funeral costs, medical bills, and the burden of providing financial support to children and dependents without a partner. For this reason, some choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking monetary recovery.<\/p>\n<h2>Amount of Recovery in Wrongful Death Lawsuits<\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s challenging to put a dollar value on a human life. The amount of recovery for a wrongful death lawsuit involves balancing many factors. The amount varies depending on the circumstances of the case.<\/p>\n<p>You can use a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumernotice.org\/personal-injury\/settlement-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrongful death settlement calculator<\/a> to estimate how much compensation you could receive. The online tool considers specific factors related to a wrongful death settlement. However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/car-accidents\/are-car-accident-settlement-calculators-accurate.html\">inaccuracy of online settlement calculators<\/a> is worth keeping in mind. These tools can give you a rough idea before starting the legal process, but you&#8217;ll probably want to confer with a lawyer when it&#8217;s time to negotiate an actual settlement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Relevant factors include the victim&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-cases-children-and-the-elderly.html\">age and health<\/a> at the time of death. Another critical factor is earning capacity, especially if the victim supported a spouse or young children. The settlement amount will also depend on the nature of the accident or injury that caused the death and whether the victim had significant medical bills or endured suffering before death.<\/p>\n<p>Plaintiffs in a wrongful death suit can seek recovery of economic damages, including things like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The decedent&#8217;s lost wages or income<\/li>\n<li>Funeral expenses, cremation, and burial expenses<\/li>\n<li>Medical bills\/medical expenses before death<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some types of damages are not as closely tied to economic losses and, as a result, can be more speculative. State laws may also cap the amount of potential recovery for these &#8220;non-economic&#8221; damages, such as a loss of household services.<\/p>\n<p>Other wrongful death damages include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The family&#8217;s loss of companionship, care, and comfort<\/li>\n<li>In the case of a spouse or partner, the loss of enjoyment of sexual intimacy, also known as &#8220;loss of consortium&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>The decedent&#8217;s pain and suffering before death<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Recovery in Wrongful Death Settlements<\/h3>\n<p>Like a personal injury case, the plaintiff in a wrongful death action can recover compensation from the at-fault party either out of court, through a settlement, or the court by a trial. For example, you can go to court if you don&#8217;t accept the settlement offer. If you go to trial, you may get an award in your favor. But there is no guarantee like there is in a settlement.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, a wrongful death attorney can help with the various stages of a settlement. Many personal injury lawyers do offer an initial free case review. With the case evaluation, the attorney can gather evidence to bolster your claim. Then, they can help you discover your expected recovery.<\/p>\n<p>States have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/statutes-of-limitations.html\">statute of limitations<\/a>, meaning you have a limited time to file your claim. Most states set this limit at two years, but it may range from one to six years. Your attorney can help you file your case in time.<\/p>\n<h3>How Wrongful Death Settlements Pay Out<\/h3>\n<p>Suppose you are in a truck accident. The truck driver has an insurance policy to drive the vehicle. The responsible party&#8217;s insurance company makes the settlement payout. But, insurance companies do not have an infinite money supply. They have policy limits on the payment amount. The insurance company will not pay more than the policy amount. The at-fault party, such as the truck driver, must pay for any amount the insurance doesn&#8217;t cover.<\/p>\n<h3>Examples of Wrongful Death Cases<\/h3>\n<p>Wrongful death settlement amounts vary from case to case. In recent years, some newsworthy wrongful death settlements and jury awards reflect how much these cases can be worth.<\/p>\n<p>Some notable examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The parents of 12-year-old Mallory Grossman reached a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/GMA\/Family\/parents-daughter-died-suicide-reach-settlement-school\/story?id=101765611\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$9.1 million settlement<\/a>\u00a0against the school district after Mallory died by suicide following months of bullying.<\/li>\n<li>The Alabama Supreme Court approved a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/1819news.com\/news\/item\/state-supreme-court-affirms-highest-ever-10-million-wrongful-death-settlement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$10 million award<\/a>\u00a0against Springhill Medical Center to the family of a man who died after successful surgery on his thumb.<\/li>\n<li>The family of Jordon Edwards won\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcdfw.com\/news\/local\/verdict-reached-in-civil-trial-for-officer-who-killed-jordan-edwards-15\/3228941\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$10.6 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages<\/a>\u00a0against a former Texas police officer who shot and killed the 15-year-old after firing into the vehicle in which Edwards was a passenger.<\/li>\n<li>Nineteen-year-old Mallory Beach&#8217;s family reached a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2023\/07\/17\/1188115851\/murdaugh-boat-mallory-beach-family-carolina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$15 million settlement<\/a> with the South Carolina convenience store that sold alcohol to the underage boat operator who ultimately crashed, killing Mallory in 2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Learn More About Wrongful Death Settlements from an Attorney<\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve lost someone you love due to an accident, injury, or crime, you may have a strong wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. Like other types of personal injury claims, wrongful death cases have statutes of limitation specific to your state, so it&#8217;s essential to act quickly if you believe you have a case. A wrongful death lawyer can provide sound legal advice.<\/p>\n<p>Speak to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">personal injury attorney<\/a>\u00a0to learn about your legal rights with wrongful death lawsuits. An experienced attorney can also help explain the ins and outs of wrongful death settlements.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                       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     class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can help negotiate fair compensation for your loss\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can investigate the specific circumstances of death and gather evidence\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can guide you through the complex and emotionally overwhelming process\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions about settling your claim. 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