When someone causes the death of your family member through their negligence, failure to act or wrongful behavior, Missouri law may allow you to file a wrongful death claim against that person — or even a business.
Wrongful death claims serve two important purposes. They create financial consequences for those who cause harm to others, and they also reduce the losses suffered by those affected by an untimely death.
Wrongful death claims require both that the family member(s) filing the lawsuit show how another party caused the death and then establish verifiable financial effects of their loss.
What compensation can your family seek as part of a wrongful death claim?
Missouri allows you to claim financial and non-financial losses. Some of the losses claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit are obvious and straightforward:
- Medical bills your loved one incurred as a result of the incident
- Funeral, wake or memorial costs
- Cremation or burial expenses
The wages they would have earned and the employment-related benefits they could have provided to the family will all contribute to the amount people can seek.
Wrongful death claims can also seek compensation for the pain and suffering someone experiences before they die. The family members who also suffered due to the loss of their loved one’s companionship and support. Family members can claim the reasonable value of the services their loved one provided to the household, ranging from childcare to moral guidance.
Asking for an appropriate amount of compensation is only the first step of many involved in holding someone accountable for their contributions to the death of your loved one.
