What Damages Can Be Recovered in Wrongful Death Cases?
When a family member dies because of someone else’s negligence, SC law allows you to seek wrongful death damages to account for what your family has lost. These damages can cover both the measurable financial costs and the emotional void left behind by your loved one’s death.
Our wrongful death attorneys have successfully secured compensation for many families, and the most challenging part is usually translating grief into numbers on a page. However, each form of compensation, whether for lost income, companionship, or funeral costs, tells a part of your loved one’s story and restores some measure of justice.
What Wrongful Death Damages Cover in Charleston, SC
SC wrongful death law allows recovery for the financial and emotional harm surviving family members endure after a preventable death. Each type of damage serves a distinct purpose:
Medical and Funeral Costs
Before death, victims typically receive emergency treatment or hospital care that leaves behind significant bills. These costs can quickly climb into the tens of thousands. Families are also responsible for burial and funeral expenses, and recovering these expenses ensures that financial burdens don’t compound an already devastating loss.
Lost Financial Support
When your family loses a primary wage earner, the long-term financial impact can be enormous. You can seek compensation for the income your loved one would have provided had they lived. That includes wages, benefits, and retirement contributions. Economists often calculate this amount based on the victim’s age, occupation, and life expectancy. For instance, losing a 40-year-old parent earning $64,000 a year can translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost future earnings.
Loss of Guidance and Companionship
These are among the most profound and most human losses in any wrongful death claim. Spouses can seek compensation for the loss of emotional companionship and support, while children can recover damages for the loss of parental guidance and love. No dollar figure can replace these relationships. Fortunately, the law recognizes that such losses are as real and lasting as financial ones.
Pain and Suffering of Survivors
SC law also allows recovery for the emotional anguish endured by surviving family members. The shock, grief, and long-term mental health impacts after a wrongful death are significant and well-documented. Studies show that losing a loved one suddenly increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and even physical health problems. These damages acknowledge the depth of that suffering.
Punitive Damages
Courts may award punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct was reckless or willfully harmful, such as in drunk driving crashes or fatal workplace violations. These damages are intended to deter future misconduct and publicly hold wrongdoers accountable.
We Can Help You Protect What Matters Most
Unfortunately, insurers are known to minimize wrongful death claims by questioning the value of emotional losses or future income. The job of your Charleston, SC, wrongful death lawyer is to ensure your family’s story is fully told and backed by substantial evidence, such as medical records, employment data, and testimony from those who knew your loved one best.
They can likewise relieve your family of the burden of negotiation. Dealing with adjusters while grieving is unfair and emotionally exhausting. With a Charleston, SC, wrongful death attorney on your side, you don’t have to handle phone calls, forms, or settlement tactics alone. You can focus on your own recovery while your lawyer builds the case and demands accountability.
Speak to Our Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyers
Our wrongful death attorneys at John Price Law can help you get the maximum compensation by scheduling your case assessment at 843-552-6011 or online.