A wrongful death claim arises when someone dies due to the fault of another person or entity. The surviving family members or financial dependents of the deceased may file a lawsuit on the negligent part to seek compensation for their losses, such as lost wages from the deceased, lost companionship, and funeral expenses. At The Bonneau Law Firm, we have helped many families seek the compensation they need to support themselves. Our accident attorneys have helped publish this primer on wrongful death claims.
A wrongful death accident can be anything from a car accident to a complicated medical malpractice or premises liability case. Individuals, companies, and government agencies can be legally and financially liable for acting negligently or intentionally.
Who May File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A claim must be filed by a representative of the survivors who suffer because of the decedent’s death. Some of those people might include:
- Immediate family members like spouses and children (including adoptive children) and parents of unmarried children.
- Life partners and putative spouses, this includes anyone who had a good faith belief that they were married to the victim.
- Distant family members such as brothers, sisters, and grandparents who were living with the deceased at the time of the accident, or were in some way financially dependent on the deceased.
- All persons who suffer financially are able to sue for wrongful death, even if they are not related by blood or marriage to the victim.
- Parents of a deceased fetus may also be able to file a claim, but there are very specific criteria for these kinds of circumstances.
Because each case is unique, it is difficult to know what to expect or how to handle a wrongful death claim on your own. Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers of The Bonneau Law Firm may be able to help you seek compensation for the loss of your loved one. Call us today at (972) 325-1100 for a consultation.