Any time one person’s irresponsible actions lead to another suffering a serious injury, there’s only so much money alone can do to make up for the harm the injured person will experience as a result. Civil compensation can feel especially inadequate when you’re trying to recover from the unexpected death of a close family member.
Wrongful death litigation can still be important to protecting your family’s financial security and overall well-being. A skilled personal injury attorney’s help can be key to getting a good case result. From start to finish of the legal process, a Pennsauken wrongful death lawyer can ensure you understand your options and guide you down the best path to recovery.
Recovering for Losses Caused by a Wrongful Death
Money can’t fill the hole that a family member’s sudden death leaves in your life and the lives of everyone who loved them, and wrongful death lawsuits aren’t meant to accomplish that. Instead, the purpose of this sort of claim is to help you handle specific financial and personal losses you and other family members will experience as a direct result of the tragedy you’ve unfortunately experienced. This can include but isn’t specifically limited to things like:
- Costs of funeral and burial or cremation services
- Lost future financial support the deceased person would’ve provided to you
- Lost future value of inheritance
- Loss of help around the house
- Lost love, guidance, and companionship
It’s also possible to recover financially for the losses a deceased person suffered due to someone else’s negligence between the moment they were first hurt and the moment they ultimately passed away from their injuries. As a Pennsauken wrongful death attorney can further explain, this requires filing a similar but separate claim called a survival action.
Who Can Recover Through a Wrongful Death Claim?
Under New Jersey law, the only person with legal standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit is the “executor” for the deceased person’s estate, which is usually someone nominated in the deceased person’s will to manage their affairs after their death. If someone dies without a valid will or without specifically naming anyone as their executor, a court can appoint someone to fill that role.
Regardless of who the executor is, they can only seek compensation on behalf of the deceased person’s surviving spouse, children or grandchildren, parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, usually in that order of priority. Those listed family members generally must prove they were financially dependent on the deceased person in order to join a wrongful death claim in Pennsauken, something that a seasoned lawyer can help establish if necessary.
Consider Working With a Pennsauken Wrongful Death Attorney
There’s no easy way forward after a loved one passes away because of some other irresponsible or criminally malicious person. You have help available with whatever civil action you want to pursue after a loss of this nature from a respected attorney with experience fighting and winning cases like this in the past.
A Pennsauken wrongful death lawyer will be the ally you need to enforce your family’s rights and protect your collective best interests. Call today to learn more.
