If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be wondering where to turn not only for emotional support, but also for a certain degree of financial support and security. As much as losing a beloved family member can be emotionally devastating, it also often leaves some families in a financial mess. Depending on the circumstances of the fatal car accident, financial compensation may be available to cover damages. This is particularly true if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Not all fatalities qualify as wrongful deaths. Any time there is a fatal crash, it must be determined who caused it and how it could have been prevented. Was one of the drivers speeding, distracted, or inattentive? Was the other driver drunk? Did he or she make an unsafe lane change or fail to yield the right-of-way by running a red light, stop sign, or making an unsafe turn? These are examples of negligent driving that can result in a wrongful death claim.
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit, the goal of which is to hold the at-fault driver financially responsible for a fatal crash. While criminal cases may result in restitution or fines, they often do not offer fair compensation to the family that has suffered a major loss. A successful civil lawsuit may result in compensation for many of the losses suffered in the accident including medical bills, hospitalization, funeral expenses, lost current and future wages, and lost benefits, to mention a few.
This guest blog post is provided by the New Jersey fatal car accident lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein who offer help and guidance to anyone who has lost a loved one in a New Jersey car accident.
