The hurt of losing a loved one never truly goes away, and wrongful death compensation can’t bring your loved one back. But there’s a lot it can do. Here’s a look at the advantages of filing a lawsuit and how Mazow | McCullough, PC can help you get justice for your family after losing someone to an unexpected and untimely death.
According to the CDC, there are more than a quarter million unintentional injury deaths every year. Was your family member one of them?
How Wrongful Death Compensation Helps Your Family
It Can Pay for Medical Bills and Funeral ExpensesDid you know that the average funeral costs more than $7,000? (National Funeral Directors Association)
The last thing you should have to think about after a loved one dies suddenly is how you will pay for their funeral or celebration of life. Most families don’t have the resources to cover an unplanned, multi-thousand-dollar expense. And it’s extremely difficult to work or even crowdfund when you’re in the midst of grief.
A wrongful death lawsuit includes your family member’s funeral expenses and requires the at-fault party to pay for them if you win. This makes sense considering you wouldn’t have incurred these expenses were it not for the responsible party’s actions.
It Can Cover Lost Wages
Any money that your loved one would and should have earned if they were not killed is also folded into your wrongful death claim. This includes base wages, raises, bonuses and incentives, and other compensation your family member would have received. You should not have to go without this money because someone else caused your loved one’s premature death.
An expert witness can calculate how much they would have earned throughout the remainder of their expected lifetime and account for things like inflation, salary increases, and more.
Further Reading: Do I Need a Wrongful Death Expert Witness?
It Can Penalize the Responsible Party
In some cases, the person or company at fault for your loved one’s death can be ordered to pay what are known as punitive damages. These damages are non-economic and separate from both economic damages and pain and suffering. They specifically seek to penalize the responsible party for extreme disregard or negligence that led to your family member’s passing.
Often, punitive damages cost the responsible party tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on top of the other damages they are required to pay. Not only does this provide you with additional compensation that can be used to cover your loved one’s expenses, but it also heavily discourages the at-fault party from repeating the actions that killed your family member.
How to Pursue Wrongful Death Compensation
To pursue a claim for wrongful death compensation, you need to work closely with a personal injury lawyer. An attorney can help you gather evidence for your case and file the correct paperwork with your local court system.
Then, your lawyer will advocate for you to receive a fair settlement that repays all the costs you incurred and compensates you for the pain you endured. Barring this, your attorney will advocate for you in court during a hearing in front of a judge and potentially a jury.
Further Reading: How to Navigate a Wrongful Death Jury Trial
How We Can Help
At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we’re here to help your family recover after losing a loved one in a tragic accident. Our team of compassionate personal injury attorneys has the experience to tirelessly advocate for your right to compensation.
Grief after wrongful death is unique and affects families differently than when someone passes away naturally. We’ll connect you with local resources for recovery, counseling, and other types of support to help you navigate life after this distinct type of loss.
Further Reading: How Grief Is Different for Wrongful Death Survivors
Contact Our Massachusetts Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with one of our veteran Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers. You can send us a message online or call (978) 744-8000 or (855) 693-9084 to get started.
