Denver Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Damages Awarded in Wrongful Death Cases
Families that have lost a loved one in a tragic accident may be able to recover compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of a Denver personal injury attorney. There’s no amount of money that can replace a loved one, but recovering compensation can help you avoid financial hardship. Here are some of the damages that you may be awarded in a wrongful death case:
Funeral & Medical Expenses
The family may be awarded compensation to cover the costs of their loved one’s funeral and medical expenses. This will not cover any medical expense that the victim incurred throughout life, but rather any expense related to the accident that caused the death. For instance, a victim that was injured in a car accident may have been taken to the hospital for treatment before he/she passed away. Any expenses that she incurred in the hospital prior to her death may be covered with this compensation. Learn more about damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Loss of Income
The victim may have provided for many family members, which means these individuals will now be left without any financial support. Fortunately, the victim’s family members may be able to recover the income that they have lost by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. To determine how much should be awarded, the court will look at a number of factors, including the victim’s income, age, and health. If the victim was young and in fairly good shape, the court will assume that she had many more working years ahead of her. This means that the family will most likely be awarded more than they would if the victim was older and in poor health prior to her death.
Loss of Benefits
In addition to income, the family may also lose out on other benefits that were provided to them by the victim. For instance, the family members may have been covered by the victim’s health insurance. In this case, the court will compensate the family for the benefits they have lost.
Pain and Suffering
Losing a loved one can be an incredibly painful experience. Even if the family members were not financially dependent on the victim, they may be compensated for the emotional pain and suffering they have endured as a result of the wrongful death. A spouse may be compensated for his loss of companionship, while children may be compensated for their loss of care, guidance, and protection.
How can you quantify the pain and suffering that you are experiencing? It can be difficult to calculate how much you should be awarded for your pain and suffering, so let an attorney help you come up with a number.
If you have lost a loved one because of the negligent acts of another person, don’t hesitate to seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury attorney. Mark A. Simon will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation that you deserve. Call us or contact Mark A. Simon to discuss your legal options during a free consultation.