{"id":353559,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death.html"},"modified":"2024-09-11T16:37:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T21:37:11","slug":"wrongful-death","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death.html","title":{"rendered":"Wrongful Death Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 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 Law<\/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\/danielle-gilmore-esq\/\">Danielle Gilmore, Esq.<\/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                            September 11, 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-key-takeaways fl-mb30\" data-testid=\"fl-key-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"fl-card-content\">\n        <div class=\"fl-card-body fl-card-bg-teal fl-flex fl-flex-column\">\n                            <h2 class=\"fl-card-title fl-h2 fl-no-margin\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n                        <p>FindLaw&#8217;s Wrongful Death section provides information about wrongful death claims. It includes how to file a wrongful death lawsuit, who can file a wrongful death claim, and how courts decide compensation amounts.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Just like you can suffer a personal injury because of another&#8217;s intentional or negligent behavior, you could also die because of that behavior.<\/p>\n<p>While the injured party can&#8217;t file a wrongful death lawsuit, their surviving family members can sue for wrongful death. A surviving spouse, child, or personal representative can file a suit on behalf of the deceased person, also called the decedent.<\/p>\n<p>A successful wrongful death suit can&#8217;t bring the victim back, but it helps the victim&#8217;s loved ones receive financial compensation for their loss. Wrongful death damages are tort damages and may include medical bills and funeral expenses. They may also include the loss of support and the loss of consortium.<\/p>\n<p>In this section, you can find articles explaining:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-cases-physician-patient-privilege.html\">Patient-doctor privileges<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The discovery rule<\/li>\n<li>Wrongful death cases involving children and older adults<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you suspect your loved one&#8217;s death was because of someone else&#8217;s actions, get specific advice for your case. A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/wrongful-death-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrongful death lawyer<\/a> can give you reliable guidance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Wrongful Death: The Basics<\/h2>\n<p>A wrongful death claim can arise from various fatal events and anything that could trigger a personal injury claim. Some examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-lawsuits-against-hospitals.html\">Medical malpractice<\/a> deaths<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-in-a-car-accident.html\">Fatal car accidents<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Criminal behavior, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/homicide.html\">homicide<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/involuntary-manslaughter-overview.html\">manslaughter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-by-police.html\">Police misconduct<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/premises-liability-faq.html\">Premises liability claims<\/a>, such as a slip-and-fall accident<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability.html\">Product liability cases<\/a> for dangerous or defective products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Only Certain People Can Sue for Wrongful Death<\/h3>\n<p>A state&#8217;s wrongful death statute lays out who can bring a cause of action. Some states, like New York, allow only the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/resources\/estate-planning\/last-will-and-testament\/will-executor-duties-faq.html\">personal representative<\/a> of the decedent&#8217;s estate to file the suit. Other states allow other beneficiaries, such as surviving family members.<\/p>\n<p>State law also varies regarding whether you can bring a survival action. A survival action is the claim that the decedent would have brought themselves if they hadn&#8217;t died.<\/p>\n<h3>Civil Claims and Criminal Charges for Causing Death<\/h3>\n<p>As the name suggests, a &#8220;wrongful act&#8221; is at the center of the suit. The wrongdoer may be subject to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/how-are-criminal-charges-brought-against-someone.html\">criminal charges<\/a>. A jury can find a person &#8220;not guilty&#8221; of their crime, but they may still be liable in a wrongful death suit.<\/p>\n<p>The standard of proof differs for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/the-differences-between-a-criminal-case-and-a-civil-case.html\">criminal case versus a civil lawsuit<\/a>. In a criminal case, the prosecutor must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. But in a civil case, the &#8220;preponderance of the evidence&#8221; standard determines liability.<\/p>\n<h3>How To Prove a Wrongful Death Claim<\/h3>\n<p>To bring a successful wrongful death case, the plaintiff must prove the following elements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The death of a person<\/li>\n<li>The defendant owed the decedent a duty of care<\/li>\n<li>The defendant&#8217;s negligence or intent to harm was the cause of the person&#8217;s death<\/li>\n<li>The surviving family members are suffering monetary injury\/loss as a result of the death\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The primary measure of damages in a wrongful death case is financial or monetary loss or injury.<\/p>\n<h3>Calculating Damages in Wrongful Death Claims<\/h3>\n<p>There are two main types of damages that a plaintiff can recover.<\/p>\n<p>First, plaintiffs can recover for economic damages, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Medical bills<\/li>\n<li>Loss of support<\/li>\n<li>Loss of services<\/li>\n<li>Lost prospect of inheritance<\/li>\n<li>Burial expenses, cremation, and funeral expenses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Second, non-economic damages may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Loss of companionship<\/li>\n<li>Loss of consortium<\/li>\n<li>Emotional distress<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A judge or jury considers the decedent&#8217;s age, health, life expectancy, intelligence, earning capacity, and character and condition. The circumstances of the people receiving the award&#8217;s money are usually also relevant. For example, the decedent might be the sole income earner for a family with young children, or they might be an older relative who didn&#8217;t provide financial support. These factors can influence the claim&#8217;s amount.<\/p>\n<p>The court may also award punitive damages to punish the defendants for egregious acts and discourage similar behavior in the future.<\/p>\n<h3>Statute of Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-claims-time-limits-and-the-discovery-rule.html\">statute of limitations<\/a> for a wrongful death lawsuit depends on state law. Like most personal injury lawsuits, the statute of limitations is typically two or three years from the date of the decedent&#8217;s death. There may be some exceptions to this time limit. Check with a local wrongful death lawyer for more information.<\/p>\n<h2>Children, Older Adults, and Wrongful Death<\/h2>\n<p>Generally speaking, courts measure the value of the victim&#8217;s life in a wrongful death action by many factors, including the victim&#8217;s earning potential. This price-setting procedure can be complex regarding the death of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-cases-children-and-the-elderly.html\">child or an older adult<\/a>. For this reason, courts follow certain guiding principles when assessing the lost financial value of a child or older adult&#8217;s passing.<\/p>\n<h3>Wrongful Death of Children<\/h3>\n<p>When a child dies, the parent can recover their financial loss. The court considers several characteristics of the claimants including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Their relationship with the child<\/li>\n<li>Their age<\/li>\n<li>Their health<\/li>\n<li>Their economic and overall circumstances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The child&#8217;s sex, age, health, life expectancy, earning potential, and habits are other determining factors. While many of these assessments are speculative, the younger the child was, the more speculative the assessment.<\/p>\n<p>However, juries are not supposed to guess what the child would have contributed to the parents&#8217; support. Juries typically work with a work-life expectancy table as a starting point for calculations to avoid basing an award purely on guesses.<\/p>\n<h3>Wrongful Death of Older Adults<\/h3>\n<p>The death of an older adult also has limited recovery potential. There are a few reasons why the award in a wrongful death case for an older adult is small. First, once a person is past retirement age, it&#8217;s assumed they don&#8217;t have significant earning potential. Secondly, the children of older adults are typically adults who no longer need substantial support or guidance from their parents. These factors usually result in modest awards in wrongful death cases involving older adults.<\/p>\n<h2>Should I Accept a Wrongful Death Settlement?<\/h2>\n<p>The answer depends on so many variables that it&#8217;s best to ask a lawyer for advice. In some cases, the convenience of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-settlement-distribution-laws-by-state.html\">wrongful death settlement<\/a> can ease the burden of the legal process for grieving relatives. It also allows them to collect money to help with urgent expenses, such as funeral costs or childcare.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But settling a wrongful death claim isn&#8217;t always the right solution. An offer might be much lower than what you are entitled to claim through a lawsuit. While the dollar amount may be shockingly high at first glance, it might fail to account for the full value of your loss. No amount of money can make up for a lost loved one. Yet, survivors still face the practical reality of bills and personal needs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/what-does-it-mean-to-settle-a-case.html\">Settling a claim<\/a> for less than its potential value could mean missing out on certain resources the family relied on the decedent to provide.<\/p>\n<p>After a fatal accident or injury, be wary of accepting any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/resolution-before-trial-settlement.html\">offer of money<\/a>. Taking a payment from the person or company responsible generally means you agree to give up your right to sue. Before making such decisions, make sure you talk to a legal professional who puts your interests first. Even if you favor settling the case to avoid trial, they can help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/tips-on-negotiating.html\">negotiate a fair amount<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer<\/h2>\n<p>You might believe someone you love has died due to another party&#8217;s intentional or negligent acts. You may want to contact a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/wrongful-death-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local injury attorney<\/a>, specifically a wrongful death attorney, to determine your legal options. They can advise you whether to bring legal action. They can also help you get a wrongful death settlement from the insurance company.<\/p>\n<p>You must meet your state&#8217;s time limits if you want to file a wrongful death lawsuit. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney as soon as you can after the death of your loved one.<\/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\" 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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 seek 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 your wrongful death case. Many attorneys offer free consultations.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/wrongful-death-plaintiff\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL3905\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                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href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-vs-medical-malpractice.html\">\n                        Wrongful Death vs. Medical Malpractice\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-overview.html\">\n                        Wrongful Death Overview\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a 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rel=\"noopener\">Truck Accidents Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/construction-accident\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Construction Accidents Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If someone close to you has died a wrongful death, it&#8217;s important to understand the options you may have. Learn about the basics of wrongful death, statutes of limitations, and much more at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":353411,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2734],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-353559","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-injury"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353559"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":398329,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353559\/revisions\/398329"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353559"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=353559"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=353559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}