Countless families in New Hampshire and across the country will be devastated by phone calls this summer, informing them that a loved one suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Sadly, many of those loved ones will die. Not only do such tragedies cause grief and emotional trauma, but they also often spark financial distress as well. This distress may be alleviated in many cases if a family member files a wrongful death claim in civil court.
A wrongful death claim is basically a lawsuit that a person who suffered fatal injuries in a car accident would have been entitled to file had he or she survived the collision. When a fatality has occurred, a family member can file a legal claim on behalf of the decedent’s estate. Only certain people can do so.
Parents and legal guardians can file wrongful death claims
When a child dies because of another person’s negligence or malicious intent, grief is always intensified. A parent or legal guardian may seek justice by filing a wrongful death claim. Others who can file similar claims include a spouse, an adult child, an official representative of a decedent’s estate, and in some cases, a sibling.
What constitutes a wrongful death?
In New Hampshire, a wrongful death is any death caused by negligence, recklessness or malicious acts, such as murder. Anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one in such circumstances may wish to learn more about how to file a wrongful death claim in civil court. Compensation awarded in such cases is often used to help offset funeral expenses and other financial distress associated with a loved one’s death.
