Wrongful death statistics don’t tell the whole story
At the end of last year, police in Virginia Beach responded to 19 fatal accidents. So far this year, 21 people have died in motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, police fear the worst is yet to come. With fewer hours of daylight, winter weather on the way and holiday travelers hitting the road, it is likely more families will be facing the sorrowful presence of a police officer at their door, bringing news of a tragic fatal accident.
Those who loose loved ones in motor vehicle accidents may feel overwhelmed with grief and look for productive ways to channel that emotion. No legal action can ever make up for the tragic lose of a loved one. Often, a successful wrongful death claim in civil court can have a two-fold benefit. It may hold a negligent driver responsible for his or her actions, and it may provide some measure of financial compensation for the tremendous loss the death of a loved one brings.
While the answer to the question “What is a wrongful death” is simply stated, wrongful death lawsuits and claims can take many forms. A wrongful death is when someone dies because of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct. Many things may indicate that a wrongful death has occurred, so legal action can also take many forms.
The costs of the death of a loved one are staggering, not simply in financial terms but in personal, physical, and emotional losses. Recovery for damages will help the decedent’s survivors pay for expenses related to the death, to recover wages that they lost because the wage earner has died, and to partially compensate for the devastating personal loss. In some cases, other damages are available.
