The death of a loved one takes a massive emotional toll on a family. While money is often the last thing on a family’s mind when enduring an unexpected loss, the fact is that the death of a loved one can also subject a family to serious financial hardship. If your loved one’s death was caused by the negligent actions of another party, you might have a viable wrongful death case for which you can recover damages, which is also known as compensation.
Different Categories of Damages
In a wrongful death case, damages are generally separated into two broad categories that are defined by two distinct time periods.
- The first category allows for the next of kin to recover damages that were experienced by their deceased loved one from the moment of the act that caused his or her death up until the moment of death. For example, if your father was injured in a serious car accident, requiring hospitalization, where he eventually passed away weeks after the accident, the damages you receive could include medical expenses, your father’s mental and physical pain and suffering, lost wages, and his funeral and burial expenses.
- The second category covers the losses experienced by the next of kin after their loved one’s death. It is meant to compensate a family for their financial losses and the loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
A Closer Look
Damages are also categorized as non-economic damages and economic damages. Economic damages are much more straightforward, generally including the decedent’s salary and the cost of any goods and services that would have been provided to the survivors were it not for the untimely death.
On the other hand, non-economic damages are not represented by an exact monetary figure, making them much more subjective. Survivors can recover non-economic damages for loss of consortium, bereavement, suffering, loss of comfort, marital care, counsel, parental care, educational support, training, guidance, and protection. They can also recover non-economic damages for the suffering of the decedent.
In a survival action, it is also possible for punitive damages to be awarded to punish the at-fault party.
Wrongful Death Attorney in Nassau County
If you lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another party, you are undoubtedly going through a difficult time, both emotionally and financially. At the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli, our wrongful death attorneys in Nassau County are dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to ensure you are able to obtain compensation for the emotional damage and financial difficulties you have suffered as a result of your loved one’s death.
Get started on your case today and contact the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli at (516) 628-6402 to request your free initial case evaluation.