Determining Losses in a Wrongful Death Case

    ORLANDO, FL, September 28, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When a person dies because of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, the surviving family members are often left with overwhelming financial and emotional hardship. Wrongful death lawsuits are designed to compensate families for an entirely preventable loss. While no amount of monetary compensation can make up for the death of a loved one, it is important to hold the negligent party accountable for the actions that led to the victim's death.

Wrongful death lawsuits are civil cases, not criminal cases: their goal is not to punish the person who was responsible, but to provide the family with fair compensation for their losses.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
You must be an immediate family member of the victim to file a wrongful death claim. Surviving spouses, parents, and children all qualify. Some states also allow grandparents, extended family members, and other dependents to file depending on the financial or emotional damages they suffered because of their loved one's death.

Areas of Recovery in a Wrongful Death Case
Families can pursue wrongful death compensation through two basic areas of recovery:
- Economic damages - For tangible financial losses, such as medical expenses, loss of future income, funeral and burial expenses, loss of benefits, and loss of services provided by the deceased.
- Non-economic damages - For "intangible" emotional losses, such as loss of companionship and pain and suffering.

Some states limit the amount of non-economic damages families can pursue. You should discuss your state's specific wrongful death laws with an experienced attorney to determine the type and extent of fair compensation to claim in your case.

In some rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded in order to discourage other people from engaging in similar negligence or recklessness.

Proving Your Wrongful Death Claim
In order to receive compensation for your loved one's wrongful death, you must prove that their death was the direct result of another party's negligence or wrongdoing. This requires a significant amount of thorough research and a convincing, comprehensive presentation of evidence. You also need to calculate a justifiable amount of compensation to request. All of these things can be difficult for a family to do alone without assistance.

Consulting with an experienced wrongful death lawyer can help you in several ways. A good attorney will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one's death
- Ensure you meet the statute of limitations and other legal guidelines in filing your claim
- Help you determine a fair amount of compensation to pursue
- Relieve you of the burden of legal work while you emotionally recover

If you would like more information about pursuing a wrongful death claim, please visit the website of the experienced Orlando wrongful death attorneys at Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter today.

Website: http://www.thefloridafirm.com

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