What are wrongful death damages?

Wrongful death damages are a type of compensation that may be awarded to surviving family members when a loved one dies due to the negligence or wrongful act of another. In the state of Washington, damages that may be recovered include economic damages for medical and funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering and mental anguish. The party who files the wrongful death suit must be one of the individuals who would be legally eligible to receive a portion of the damages should the case be successful. This may include the deceased’s spouse or domestic partner, surviving children, parents, and other close relatives depending on the circumstances of the case. Wrongful death damages are designed to cover the economic and non-economic losses of the deceased family members that resulted from their loved one’s death. By awarding damages, the court is essentially attempting to put the family in the same financial and emotional position they would have been in if their loved one had not died as a result of wrongful conduct.

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What are wrongful death damages?

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