If you have lost a loved one in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering what type of compensation you may be eligible for in Connecticut. A wrongful death claim can arise out of many different types of situations. A drunk driving accident, a workplace accident, a serious dog attack that leads to death and others are just some examples.
When pursuing financial compensation for the death of an innocent person, there are five types of damages that can be awarded. The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch groups these five damage types into two major classifications. One category of wrongful death damages is referred to as non-economic damages. The other category of wrongful death damages is referred to as economic damages.
A summary of all potential wrongful death damages includes the following:
An award for the death itself.
An award to compensate for pain and suffering incurred.
An award based upon the loss of the victim’s ability to continue life as he or she would have otherwise.
An award for the victim’s unrealized earnings due to the death.
An award to compensate for actual costs associated with a funeral, memorial service, or medical care.
The first three awards in this list are non-economic damages. The last two are considered economic damages. Awards made for the loss of earnings must subtract any reasonable living costs.
If you would like to learn more about wrongful death claims and compensation in Connecticut, you can visit the personal injury and wrongful death website of Loughlin Fitzgerald, Attorneys at Law.
