Picking up the pieces and moving forward after a car accident can be incredibly difficult. In your time of grief, the last thing you want to think about is embarking on a lengthy and stressful legal process, but you may also be dealing with financial losses you cannot manage on your own. It may be both appropriate and necessary for you to consider a wrongful death claim.
Legal recourse allows you to recoup some of your losses, but it also is a way to hold liable parties accountable for your pain and suffering. The damages you should seek depend on what you lost, how the death is currently impacting your life and how it will affect you long term. No amount of money can bring back what you lost, but it does allow you to look to the future with more confidence.
Types of damages
No two cases are alike, and every family situation is different after the loss of a loved one. The specific damages you may be able to seek depend on the details of your individual situation. In many wrongful death cases, the following damages may be available:
- Lost wages and financial support
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Medical expenses
- Mental anguish
- Amount of suffering experienced before death
- Funeral expenses
The amount you should seek also depends on the details of your individual case. You can pursue damages for how much your loved one suffered before his or her death, but you can also pursue damages for the emotional and mental suffering you are now experiencing after the loss. The amount can also depend on whether the decedent was an income provider for your family and how he or she contributed to the household.
Your recovery
It may be tempting to simply accept a settlement after an accident so you can just move forward with your life. These offers generally do not represent the full amount that may be available to you. A hasty decision could result in you leaving money on the table that could be important for your family.
After the loss of a loved one, you will find it beneficial to speak with an experienced Florida attorney about your options. An assessment of your case can help you understand how to move forward and the specific amount of damages your family should seek after the tragic loss of a loved one.
