Wrongful death lawsuits allow grieving survivors to seek economic justice after certain kinds of tragedy. The compensation sought in a wrongful death lawsuit helps replace lost wages and cover unexpected expenses, such as funeral costs and end-of-life medical care.
For many families seeking justice through the civil courts, lost wages are the costliest element of a wrongful death lawsuit. They may lose decades of income that the deceased individual could have provided for the family.
Families preparing to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit may need to consult with an attorney to accurately estimate the lost income their loved one could have earned.
Wages rarely remain stagnant for an entire career
Families trying to navigate a wrongful death lawsuit could easily underestimate the lost income they must recoup. The current income of the deceased individual is only a starting point for the calculations.
Usually, successful professionals also have employment benefits, which can be worth roughly a third of their wages. Additionally, professionals may receive cost-of-living wage adjustments to account for inflation.
Most professionals supporting their families work to develop their careers. They apply for new jobs with different companies or internal advancement opportunities with their current employers. Those already struggling with grief may have a hard time doing the research necessary to understand the likely career progression of their deceased loved one and the changes in wages and benefits that may have followed each advancement opportunity.
Partnering with a lawyer allows those seeking economic justice after an actionable tragedy to focus on healing rather than research. Those pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit may need help calculating their losses and understanding what forms of compensation they can request as they prepare for civil court, and that’s okay.