Pursuing compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit

On Behalf of Holmes & Wiseley, P.C.

A driver’s poor judgment in getting behind the wheel drunk led to a tragedy from which your family may never recover. After a night of drinking at a local tavern, the man inserted the car keys in the ignition and drove away. Ten minutes later, the driver’s car crossed the road’s centerline and crashed head-on into a vehicle that contained your two sons.

One son died at the scene. The other lingered for several weeks at a hospital until succumbing to his injuries. Dumbstruck with grief, you and the rest of your family find yourselves in a deep blue haze. That driver’s negligence led to the wrongful deaths of two of the most cherished people in your life. It is time to pursue legal action.

Funeral expenses, loss of companionship

Understandably, no amount of money can take away the pain of losing a loved one. But you should seek some form of compensation attributed to the negligence of someone else. In a wrongful death action, here are some of the areas for which you may gain compensation:

• Funeral and end-of-life costs: The average cost of a funeral in Michigan is $6,902. Related expenses may include memorial services, minister fees and getting the death certificate. End-of-life costs, which may include care at nursing homes or acute care facilities, cost an average of $12,209 in the state. Combine those numbers, and those costs climb to $19,111.
• Medical expenses: This may include end-of-life costs for medical treatment in effort to save the life of your loved one. Doctors and health care workers may have labored for days and months. The result: medical bills that may run to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Sorrow and grief: The deep pain felt by the terrible loss of a loved one may never go away. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder may surface. Grief may trigger panic disorder and other mental illnesses.
• Loss of companionship: As a spouse or parent, the personal loss of a loved one may be overwhelming. You have lost a trusted confidante who provided you with guidance, affection and comfort.
• Lost income and other benefits: Your family may have long relied on your loved one’s income and health insurance to maintain your quality of life. Other financial losses may be tied to pensions and retirement benefits.

It is your duty to confront your family’s internal misery and do your best to overcome it. This is a challenge no one ever wants to face: dealing with the death of a loved one.

Seek help and guidance

The emotional and financial struggles may linger. Seek the help and guidance you need whether from therapists as well as financial and legal professionals.

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