Wrongful death law  - a tort law - is designed to compensate for harm to a person resulting in death.  A wrongful death lawsuit holds that the decedent was killed as a result of negligence or other liability, and that the surviving dependents or beneficiaries are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the defendant's conduct.  Each state in the United States has passed "wrongful death statutes" unique to its own jurisdiction.

In the loss of a loved one, these damages may be sued for by the deceased's estate or heirs.  Medical bills - physician bills, hospital bills, therapy and ambulance bills - can be overwhelming, causing untold mental anguish for the family as well as the victim.  Loss of income and loss of future income can be devastating for a dependant who is already suffering the emotional loss of a parent or guardian.  Sometimes the financial hardship is such that they must abandon plans for education or give up the home they know.

A civil wrong, or a tort, is recognized by law as grounds for a lawsuit.  Sometimes these wrongs are considered crimes and are punishable with imprisonment, but the primary aim of tort law is to provide relief through compensation to injured parties for the damages incurred.  Among the types of recoverable damages are: loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses.  They include both present and future expected losses.

A wrongful death action may able to recover damages such as medical & funeral expenses, the loss of victim's anticipated earnings in the future until the time of retirement or death, loss of pension benefits (or some inheritances) caused by the victim's death, pain and suffering or mental anguish to the survivors, loss of care, protection or companionship to the survivors. 

Arthur M. Blue Law Office, P.A., Personal Injury lawyers, Carthage & Southern Pines, North Carolina - (910) 947-1500

Crouse Law Offices, James T. Crouse - Aviation Disaster & Personal Injury Attorneys, Raleigh, NC - (919) 861-0503

Poyner & Spruill, L.L.P., Multi-disciplinary, Raleigh, Charlotte & Rocky Mount, North Carolina - (919) 783-6400

Smith, Debnam, Personal Injury lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina - (919) 250-2000

Keith Teague & Glover, P.A., Personal Injury lawyers, Elizabeth City, North Carolina - (252) 335-0878

Tharrington Smith, L.L.P.,, Personal Injury lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina - (919) 821-4711

Twiggs, Beskind, Strickland & Rabenau, P.A., Personal Injury lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina - (919) 828-4357

Paul L. Whitfield, Personal Injury lawyer, Charlotte, North Carolina - (704) 372-8322