What can I be compensated for in a wrongful death claim?

In the wake of a loved one’s death, it can be enormously challenging to see past the grief, sadness and frustration you may be feeling. In cases where a loved one was very sick, people may have been experiencing these emotions for months or years before the person succumbed to the illness.

This is something that other people tend to ignore or forget about; losing a loved one doesn’t just change survivors’ lives after the fact. It can dramatically change their lives and well-being when they are focusing on trying to treat and/or cure an illness. In situations where a condition and tragic death was caused by one or more parties, survivors may be able to pursue compensation that not only reflects the damages suffered as a result of the death, but also those suffered before it.

Serious illnesses, like those caused by asbestos exposure, can be devastating. In some cases, they are very aggressive and a person goes from being relatively healthy to being very sick in seemingly the blink of an eye. Illnesses like mesothelioma can dramatically change a person’s life. Even a self-sufficient and able-bodied person can end up needing constant medical treatment and monitoring. This can be enormously upsetting both for the patient and his or her loved ones.

This is why North Carolina wrongful death laws allow for the recovery of damages suffered prior to a person’s passing. For instance, you may pursue compensation for the expenses of the medical care that was needed before death. Additionally, compensation may be awarded to reflect the pain and suffering of the decedent before he or she passed away.

While many people understand that they can pursue compensation for the damages suffered in the wake of a death, it is also important to understand that the compensation may also reflect the damages suffered before.

Of course, money cannot undo the damage or truly compensate people for the suffering and loss stemming from a wrongful death. It can, however, serve as means of acknowledging those painful experiences.