Most of the time, people go through their days giving little thought to the fragility of life. We all have so many things that we need to get done. We also have plans that we want to see come to fruition. However, all of our hopes for the future could be irrevocably altered by the sudden loss of a close family member. If the cause of death is owed to the negligence of another party, the loss could feel even more unfair.
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is a process. At first, there is disbelief that someone who was such an important part of a family is gone forever. Once the reality sinks in, family members must deal with many conflicting emotions such as grief and anger. If the decedent was an important contributor to the household’s income, a family may also experience a profound sense of fear due to the uncertainty of the future.
Families who lose a member due to someone else’s negligence may be able to gain compensation by filing a wrongful death suit against the responsible party. The amount that a family may recover is called “pecuniary loss,” and the total is determined by a number of factors.
These factors may include the cost of funeral expenses and medical expenses. It could also include the loss of household income and even the loss of parental guidance if the decedent was a father or mother.
When filing a wrongful death suit, it can help to have a representative who possesses knowledge of the state’s statutes. Therefore, if your family has suffered the loss of a loved one, you may wish to secure the services of an attorney who can assess your loss and help you work toward receiving a fair settlement.