January 9, 2020 2 min to read
How much can you sue for wrongful death? A guide on the average settlements
Category : Finance, Lifestyle
A jury in California awarded a 13-year-old girl $150 million in damages after she witnessed her family burn to death in a car accident. Another jury in Pennsylvania awarded $227 million in a settlement after a deadly Center City collapse.
So how much can you sue for wrongful death? As you can see, the average wrongful death settlement value can vary greatly. This is partially due to the specific circumstances of the passing and the state the death occurs in.
Follow this guide to help you determine how much you can sue for in your wrongful death claim.
How Much Can You Sue for Wrongful Death?
There’s no wrongful death lawsuit settlement average number that you should sue for when making a wrongful death claim. The amount you should sue for is determined by the loss and damages you experience.
Skip the Wrongful Death Calculator
You may find online wrongful death settlement calculators that claim to be able to tell you your potential recovery. Don’t trust them.
Each case has unique factors that these calculators can’t accurately predict wrongful death settlements. Your best course of action is to speak with an experienced wrongful death attorney.
Can You File the Wrongful Death Claim?
Only certain people can file a wrongful death claim. Typically the representative of the estate will file the wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased and their relatives. Only certain survivors qualify.
Immediate Family
In all states, the spouse of the deceased can file a claim. Parents of deceased minor children and minor children with deceased parents can all file a claim.
More Distant Relatives
Each state has its own requirements for who can qualify for recovery. Things start to get more confusing when its parents filing a claim for adult children or vice versa.
States also vary greatly when it pertains to grown siblings filing a claim for their adult siblings or extended relatives such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
As a general rule, the more distant the relationship, the harder it will be to prove a legal claim and just compensation.
Romantic Relationship Exception
One exception is a romantic partner that is financially dependent on the deceased, but there is no legal marriage. Some states allow the romantic partner to file a claim despite there being no direct legal, familial relation.
Tally Your Monetary Losses
It may feel awkward, but if you want to file a wrongful death claim, you need to show that you’ve experienced a financial loss. No amount of money will replace your loved one…
Continue reading the article and learn more about wrongful death claims on Life Is An Episode website.