A wrongful death is legally defined as a death caused by the misconduct or negligence of another person or legal entity, such as a commercial company. A wrongful death can be the result of a number of circumstances, such as aircraft or automobile accidents, drunk driving, defectively designed products, failure to diagnose a fatal disease, construction of an unsafe building or criminal activity.

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Wrongful death laws, which exist in all 50 states and vary from state to state, generally provide the ability for a decedent's beneficiaries to file a lawsuit for a death that was caused by a wrongful act or negligence of another. The types of damages recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit will vary depending on the jurisdiction. Below are some examples of types of damages that may be recoverable:

• Loss of love, companionship, care or protection
• Loss of parental training and guidance
• Loss of anticipated future earnings the deceased would have provided
• Lost benefits from the death, such as pension or retirement benefits
• Expense associated with the death, such as medical bills and funeral costs

In order to pursue a wrongful death suit, there must be sufficient evidence of the following factors:

• The death of the victim was caused by negligence or misconduct of the defendant
• There are surviving beneficiaries or dependents, such as a spouse, parents or children
• Damages such as financial hardship or loss of love and affection were incurred by the surviving beneficiaries as a direct result of the victim's death

If a loved one has died as a result of a wrongful act or negligence of another, you may be eligible to receive compensation under the law. Our experienced attorneys would like to take an opportunity to discuss your case with you and evaluate your legal options.