Wrongful Death
Find peace and financial relief after tragedy. Request a free consultation to connect with a wrongful death lawyer today.
The story doesn’t end here— the fight for justice has only begun.
Dealing with the loss of a family member can feel earth-shattering, but a good attorney can help you receive the compensation you need to keep your family stable during financial hardship. A wrongful death lawsuit should be filed when a person or entity is directly responsible for the death of another person, whether it was intentional or an accident.
Wrongful death can happen just about anywhere and occur in many forms, from a fatal car wreck to an accident that happens when surgery unfortunately goes wrong. Filing a wrongful death claim with an attorney can help your family cover the heavy costs that come losing a loved one and finally find peace.
What damages can be claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit?
These are some (but not all) of the damages the deceased’s family may be able to collect:
- Loss of future income or wages
- Funeral services and burial fees
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of intimacy/companionship
- Loss of retirement benefits
- Loss of guidance and support
See how much your case could be worth.
- Free, no-obligation consultations.
- Pay NO FEES unless you win.
- Nationwide network of attorneys.
Wrongful Death FAQs
Which family members can file a claim for a loved one?
This question can be tricky, since each state plays by slightly different rules. Some states have relatively loose familial guidelines, while others are much more strict.
States with more relaxed wrongful death laws will allow several different family members to come forward, including parents, spouses, and adult children. Stricter states will only allow the person listed in the deceased’s will (called the personal representative) to file a claim.
What is a survival action?
A survival action allows a personal representative (or an eligible family member) to file for the personal injury damages that the deceased would have filed for if he or she were still living.
Damages earned from a wrongful death claim are designed to compensate the deceased’s family for any loss of income, support, or companionship caused by the victim’s death.
A survival death action, however, is designed to compensate the victim for the damages they suffered before they died, like emotional distress or pain and suffering. Survival actions usually occur if the victim had already filed a personal injury claim or was already suffering from an injury or illness for a long time.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after my treatment?
In 48 states, plaintiffs have 2-3 years to file a wrongful death claim on the behalf of their deceased loved ones.
However, in Louisiana and Kentucky, family members only have ONE YEAR after their loved ones passed away to file a wrongful death claim, similar to a medical malpractice case. If you live in either of these states, you’ll need to act very quickly before your time runs out.
Why Free Legal Reviews?
We believe everyone deserves top-notch legal representation. Our case review and advocate-matching services are entirely free to you, and lawsuit participants only have to pay for legal costs if they win a settlement.
We’ve assisted over 100,000 victims with their personal injury claims, and we’re proud to have helped those who may not have pursued the help they need on their own.
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With Free Legal Reviews, filing a claim has never been easier. When you work with an attorney in our network, you don’t have to step a foot into a courtroom to get financial relief for your case.
Further Reading
The story doesn’t end here— the fight for justice has only begun.
Dealing with the loss of a family member can feel earth-shattering, but a good attorney can help you receive the compensation you need to keep your family stable during financial hardship. A wrongful death lawsuit should be filed when a person or entity is directly responsible for the death of another person, whether it was intentional or an accident.
Wrongful death can happen just about anywhere and occur in many forms, from a fatal car wreck to an accident that happens when surgery unfortunately goes wrong. Filing a wrongful death claim with an attorney can help your family cover the heavy costs that come losing a loved one and finally find peace.
What damages can be claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit?
These are some (but not all) of the damages the deceased’s family may be able to collect:
- Loss of future income or wages
- Funeral services and burial fees
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of intimacy/companionship
- Loss of retirement benefits
- Loss of guidance and support
See how much your case could be worth.
- Free, no-obligation consultations.
- Pay NO FEES unless you win.
- Nationwide network of attorneys.
Wrongful Death FAQs
Which family members can file a claim for a loved one?
This question can be tricky, since each state plays by slightly different rules. Some states have relatively loose familial guidelines, while others are much more strict.
States with more relaxed wrongful death laws will allow several different family members to come forward, including parents, spouses, and adult children. Stricter states will only allow the person listed in the deceased’s will (called the personal representative) to file a claim.
What is a survival action?
A survival action allows a personal representative (or an eligible family member) to file for the personal injury damages that the deceased would have filed for if he or she were still living.
Damages earned from a wrongful death claim are designed to compensate the deceased’s family for any loss of income, support, or companionship caused by the victim’s death.
A survival death action, however, is designed to compensate the victim for the damages they suffered before they died, like emotional distress or pain and suffering. Survival actions usually occur if the victim had already filed a personal injury claim or was already suffering from an injury or illness for a long time.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after my treatment?
In 48 states, plaintiffs have 2-3 years to file a wrongful death claim on the behalf of their deceased loved ones.
However, in Louisiana and Kentucky, family members only have ONE YEAR after their loved ones passed away to file a wrongful death claim, similar to a medical malpractice case. If you live in either of these states, you’ll need to act very quickly before your time runs out.
Why Free Legal Reviews?
We believe everyone deserves top-notch legal representation. Our case review and advocate-matching services are entirely free to you, and lawsuit participants only have to pay for legal costs if they win a settlement.
We’ve assisted over 100,000 victims with their personal injury claims, and we’re proud to have helped those who may not have pursued the help they need on their own.
Ready to file a claim?
Further Reading
More About Personal Injury Law
The story doesn’t end here— the fight for justice has only begun.
Dealing with the loss of a family member can feel earth-shattering, but a good attorney can help you receive the compensation you need to keep your family stable during financial hardship. A wrongful death lawsuit should be filed when a person or entity is directly responsible for the death of another person, whether it was intentional or an accident.
Wrongful death can happen just about anywhere and occur in many forms, from a fatal car wreck to an accident that happens when surgery unfortunately goes wrong. Filing a wrongful death claim with an attorney can help your family cover the heavy costs that come losing a loved one and finally find peace.
What damages can be claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit?
These are some (but not all) of the damages the deceased’s family may be able to collect:
- Loss of future income or wages
- Funeral services and burial fees
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of intimacy/companionship
- Loss of retirement benefits
- Loss of guidance and support
See how much your case could be worth.
- Free, no-obligation consultations.
- Pay NO FEES unless you win.
- Nationwide network of attorneys.
Wrongful Death FAQs
Which family members can file a claim for a loved one?
This question can be tricky, since each state plays by slightly different rules. Some states have relatively loose familial guidelines, while others are much more strict.
States with more relaxed wrongful death laws will allow several different family members to come forward, including parents, spouses, and adult children. Stricter states will only allow the person listed in the deceased’s will (called the personal representative) to file a claim.
What is a survival action?
A survival action allows a personal representative (or an eligible family member) to file for the personal injury damages that the deceased would have filed for if he or she were still living.
Damages earned from a wrongful death claim are designed to compensate the deceased’s family for any loss of income, support, or companionship caused by the victim’s death.
A survival death action, however, is designed to compensate the victim for the damages they suffered before they died, like emotional distress or pain and suffering. Survival actions usually occur if the victim had already filed a personal injury claim or was already suffering from an injury or illness for a long time.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after my treatment?
In 48 states, plaintiffs have 2-3 years to file a wrongful death claim on the behalf of their deceased loved ones.
However, in Louisiana and Kentucky, family members only have ONE YEAR after their loved ones passed away to file a wrongful death claim, similar to a medical malpractice case. If you live in either of these states, you’ll need to act very quickly before your time runs out.
Why Free Legal Reviews?
We believe everyone deserves top-notch legal representation. Our case review and advocate-matching services are entirely free to you, and lawsuit participants only have to pay for legal costs if they win a settlement.
We’ve assisted over 100,000 victims with their personal injury claims, and we’re proud to have helped those who may not have pursued the help they need on their own.