Wrongful Death
When the negligence or wrongful acts of a person or corporate entity result in the death of someone you love, you may be entitled to recover for the financial and emotional damages you have sustained as a result. Unlike a typical personal injury lawsuit, which is intended to compensate the injured victim for his or her own losses, in a wrongful death suit, any recovery is limited to those losses suffered by the surviving family members of the deceased. According to Virginia law, damages in a wrongful death suit may include compensation for:
- Reasonably expected loss of income from the decedent;
- Loss of services, protection, care and assistance provided by the decedent;
- Sorrow, mental anguish and solace suffered by the family members;
- Expenses for the care, treatment and hospitalization of the decedent prior to death;
- Reasonable funeral expenses; and
- Punitive damages in cases involving willful and wanton conduct, or reckless disregard for the safety of others.
