{"id":372341,"date":"2016-12-15T12:42:22","date_gmt":"2016-12-15T17:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-wrongful-death-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-09-18T14:24:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T19:24:11","slug":"district-of-columbia-wrongful-death-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-wrongful-death-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"District of Columbia Wrongful Death Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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District of Columbia Wrongful Death Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Washington, D.C., like other states, has a wrongful death statute. The District of Columbia defines \u201cwrongful death\u201d as a death due to a wrongful act, neglect, or default such that the deceased person could have filed a tort action if they survived. Wrongful acts include intentional acts such as homicide and negligence.<\/p>\r\n

In D.C., the surviving spouse, domestic partner, or next of kin are beneficiaries of wrongful death lawsuits. The executor or personal representative<\/a> of the deceased\u2019s estate must file the legal action.<\/p>\r\n

Surviving family members who need to file a wrongful death suit should have a good wrongful death attorney and an understanding of D.C.\u2019s laws.<\/p>\r\n

D.C. Wrongful Death Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

D.C. codes<\/a> allow the survivors of a dead person to file a wrongful death claim. But the executor or administrator of the estate must file the claim. The court allocates damages to beneficiaries based on the court\u2019s determination of each survivor\u2019s percentage of loss.<\/p>\r\n

Wrongful deaths, like personal injury claims, come from many causes:<\/p>\r\n