When someone passes away unexpectedly, such as in a car accident or in a workplace accident, the family may be interested in seeking compensation through a wrongful death case. They are alleging that the other person‘s passing was caused by someone else’s negligence. For instance, they may be interested in suing the driver of the car that caused the crash.
At this time, it’s important to consider all of the ways that this wrongful death is going to impact that family moving forward. They may start by seeking compensation for any medical bills or lost wages that were directly caused by the crash, but it could also go far beyond that. Below are two examples.
Future wages
For one thing, the family may want to seek compensation for lost future wages. In some cases, the person who passed away was the main breadwinner for that family. They were expecting that person to continue in a lucrative career for decades. If someone was making $100,000 a year and expected to work for 10 more years, for example, that could represent a loss of $1 million in future wages.
Loss of consortium
It’s also important to consider the impact that losing such an important member of the family has. The surviving spouse has lost a companion. This deprives them of the intimate relationship they enjoyed during their marriage. It also means that they lose assistance with parental care if they have children. Essentially, being involved in a close and loving relationship was a major benefit in its own right, and the person’s unexpected passing has taken that away from the surviving family members. They may deserve some level of compensation to make up for this loss, even though nothing can replace the person who passed away.
Legal options
Are you and your family in this situation? If so, take the time to carefully consider all the legal options at your disposal.