Calculating Damages in a Wrongful Death Suit

Dealing with the death of a loved one is never a simple affair. However, after the grief has begun to subside and the practical matters have been addressed, you may be wondering what you can do to help pick up the pieces and go on. While the law can never restore your loved one to you, what it can do is help restore you to the financial position you would have been in had it not been for the negligent actions of a third party via a wrongful death suit.

Simply put, the law contains venues for you to be reimbursed for all your medical (and other) expenses arising from the situation. What’s more, you may be able to obtain a judgment for all the future wages that your loved one would have earned had his or her life not been cut short due to the negligence of someone else.

Damages for expenses

The simplest damages to calculate are those for expenses that you incurred during the ordeal. Things such as hospital bills, doctor bills, medication, physical therapy, and other expenses that would never have been created were it not for the negligence of the other party.

These damage calculations tend to be straightforward, although there is some wiggle room to be had in determining whether certain expenses were a result of the incident or not. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have an experienced attorney advocating for you.

Damages for unrealized benefits

Damages for benefits that you will never enjoy now—such as the wages that your deceased love one will never earn—are substantially more difficult to determine. You can be sure that the defense will try everything possible to downplay this number, and you will be required to back up your calculations.

Because of this, you really do need an attorney who knows the law in this area. You need someone who will be able to aptly demonstrate to the court just how significant (in terms of finances) your loss is. You need someone who knows the precedents set in other cases. In short, you need an attorney who has practiced in the area for a considerable amount of time.

Experience counts

At O’Neil Injury Law, we know what judges and juries look for in determining the damages you have suffered. We know how to present a solid case and defend it against the attacks of the defense. Let us put our experience to work for you. Contact us today.