Car accidents are tragic no matter the circumstances, but it can be worse when the accident involves a loved one. If someone you love dies in an accident in Virginia, you’ll need to know how to pick up the pieces. A wrongful death action could be the right choice.
A wrongful death action is a civil lawsuit
You must prove two things when bringing a wrongful death action. One specifies that your loved one would not have died if someone else had not been negligent. Secondly, you have to show that the death caused, causes and will cause tangible damages you can document.
Deadly car accidents can result in various damages that survivors suffer
One of the first items family members typically have to deal with are the medical expenses of their loved one. Next, there are burial expenses. Family members who depended on the deceased for their income, health care benefits, and other financial assistance now lose this element.
Other damages include compensation for pain and suffering. In addition to the financial hardships, there are the emotional hardships that affect members of the family differently. Therefore, a child may have damages that an adult does not experience and vice versa.
Punitive damages protect society from having others act negligently
Punitive damages are not there to ruin a person. They are not in effect to make a business go bankrupt. Instead, they serve the vital purpose of deterring the type of negligent behavior that cost your loved one their life.
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be able to protect your rights by consulting with a law firm.
