Many individuals believe that out-of-pocket expenses such as funerals and hospital bills are the only expenses covered by wrongful death cases. However, the truth is much more complex and significant.
When someone dies, especially if they are a breadwinner or caregiver, their absence creates years or decades of financial and emotional consequences. California law recognizes this and allows surviving families to recover a wide range of damages, including:
Lost Future Earnings
If a 35-year-old father of two is killed in a car crash, he may have had 30 more working years ahead. That lost income—potentially millions of dollars—can be claimed in a wrongful death suit.
Loss of Support and Services
Who will now cook meals, take care of the children, mow the lawn, or provide emotional support during difficult times? These are all compensable losses, even if they aren’t measured in dollars at first glance.
Loss of Consortium
Spouses may claim loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy—damages that reflect the deep emotional cost of losing a partner.
Emotional Distress
Some wrongful death lawsuits include survival actions, which can also cover the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death.
Real-World Example
A single mother is struck and killed by a negligent rideshare driver. Her two children not only lose their only financial provider, but also the emotional center of their world. A comprehensive wrongful death lawsuit would factor in both the tangible and intangible losses they suffer over a lifetime.
