Potential Types of Compensation for Wrongful Death

 Posted on January 14, 2024 in Personal Injury

Losing a loved one is painful enough without having to worry about financial burdens. When a wrongful death occurs due to another party’s negligence or misconduct, the surviving family members may be eligible to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced Illinois personal injury attorney can advise your family on the potential types of damages they may recover.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are intended to compensate for tangible financial losses resulting from a wrongful death. Types of economic damages may include:

• Medical and funeral expenses - Costs related to medical treatment prior to death and funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial support - Loss of current and future income the deceased would have earned and contributed to the family
• Loss of benefits - Loss of employment benefits, social security, pension, and other monetary benefits
• Loss of inheritance - Loss of money or assets the victim could have accumulated and left to family members

Noneconomic Damages

Noneconomic damages cover more intangible, quality-of-life losses. These may include:

• Loss of companionship - Compensation for losing the love, affection, care, society, comfort, and protection the victim would have provided
• Pain and suffering - Damages accounting for any conscious pain and suffering the victim experienced prior to death
• Loss of guidance - Monetary damages associated with losing parental, spousal, or child guidance and counseling
• Mental anguish - Compensation for severe emotional distress and grief family members have suffered

Punitive Damages

If the behavior that resulted in the victim’s death showed a reckless disregard for human life or safety, the family may also seek punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the defendant and deter similar misconduct in the future rather than simply compensating the plaintiffs

Unlike economic and non-economic compensatory damages, punitive damages typically have no set limit or cap. The amount of punitive damages awarded depends on the egregiousness of the defendant’s behavior, their financial resources, and precedents set by other cases. Courts may award exceptionally high punitive damages when a defendant’s actions showed an extreme disregard for public safety or human life.

Contact a Glenview, IL Wrongful Death Lawyer

The specific damages available to surviving family members may vary case by case. If you lost a loved one because of another party’s reckless or intentional actions, do not hesitate to contact a Northbrook, IL personal injury attorney. With compassion and dedication, the right lawyer can help you seek fair compensation so you can focus on healing during this difficult time. Call Gruzmark Law, Ltd. at 847-729-7660 for a free consultation.