Any time that a family member passes away in an accident, it is traumatic for their loved ones who must deal with the aftermath of the tragedy. Life can become particularly stressful if the person who passed away was also the breadwinner for their family. In such scenarios, those who are left behind have not only lost someone they cared about very deeply, they have also lost their main source of income – or perhaps their only source of income.
Surviving loved ones may be left wondering how they can navigate these changes in their life. How will they pay the bills, keep food on the table and keep the lights on? What options do they have? Everything about the accident feels unfair.
Seeking potential compensation
In a situation like this, it’s very important to know about the different options for compensation that someone might have. Sometimes, a wrongful death lawsuit can be used to try to recover damages if the deceased was killed due to another’s negligence, recklessness or intentional conduct. While no amount of money can ease grief, it may ease the financial strain felt by surviving family members.
Loved ones may be able to seek compensation for lost income, medical bills related to their late loved one’s care and even funeral costs. With funerals costing an average of nearly $8,000, this alone can be a prohibitive expense.
Beyond lost wages, a family may be able to seek compensation for lost future earnings. For instance, perhaps the main breadwinner who passed away was 50 years old and expected to keep working for another 15 years. Even if they didn’t get any promotions or raises for the next 15 years, they still would’ve earned a lot of money for their family. The family will continue to feel that financial loss in the future and may deserve compensation to make up for it depending on the circumstances of their loved one’s death.
Every family’s situation is unique. As a result, it’s important to avoid committing to a plan of action before talking with a lawyer.