Losing a loved one is not just emotionally devastating, but it can be financially devastating as well. Funerals in Oklahoma are costly, and then there is the additional burden of making it by day-to-day without the income your loved one provided. These concerns are only made worse when your loved one was killed in a car crash caused by a distracted, drunk or reckless driver. When this happens, it pays to learn more about wrongful death claims.
What is a wrongful death claim?
When a person dies due to someone else’s negligence, their surviving relatives may want to see if they can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. Such a claim is brought by a personal representative on behalf of the victim’s survivors. If it can be shown that the victim’s passing was due to the negligence of another, and this caused the victim’s loved ones to suffer financial damages, a wrongful death claim may be one way to seek compensation from the responsible party.
Damages in wrongful death claims
Damages in a wrongful death claim are generally “pecuniary” damages. This is just a legal way of saying they are financial damages. Some examples of pecuniary damages include medical expenses and burial expenses. Loss of consortium is another type of damages that may be sought in a wrongful death claim. When calculating damages, the court may consider the victim’s age, job, earning capacity and health, among other factors.
We take care of the legal end so you can focus on moving forward
This is only a brief overview of wrongful death claims. In the end, if you lost a loved one in a car crash caused by a negligent driver, you may want to contact an attorney to determine if you are able to pursue a wrongful death claim. The loss of a loved one is a confusing time, and you may feel like there is nowhere to turn. However, attorneys in southeast Oklahoma are here to assist you as you move forward with your life.
