Damages in Terre Haute Wrongful Death Cases

After losing a family member to a senseless death, you might not know where to turn for help. Your family could be suffering both emotionally and financially, and you might struggle to support yourself and make ends meet.

Fortunately, a seasoned wrongful death attorney can help you seek economic compensation. Your family may be entitled to pursue a lawsuit against the people or entities who caused your loved one to lose their life. Our legal team has experience helping many families obtain damages in Terre Haute wrongful death cases, and we will apply that experience when assisting your family during this difficult time.

Types of Recoverable Damages After Wrongful Deaths

If your loved one in Terre Haute died because of someone else’s actions, you could be eligible to collect different types of financial damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. The personal representative of your deceased loved one’s estate can pursue a legal claim on their behalf.

Economic Damages

The unexpected loss of a family member can cause significant financial strain, and in a wrongful death suit, your family could collect the out-of-pocket expenses you incurred. For instance, you could pursue compensation for your loved one’s reasonable medical expenses after the accident, as well as funeral and burial expenses.

Depending on your relationship with the deceased person, you could be eligible to collect additional types of compensation. For example, if you relied on their wages to support yourself and your family, you might be eligible to recover compensation for their lost wages, benefits, and future anticipated lifetime earnings. If an adult died, their surviving spouse, dependent children, or surviving dependent next of kin could seek compensation for their loss of future financial support and earnings. If you lost your spouse, you could also recover compensation for their loss of services.

Non-Economic Damages

An untimely death can also cause other types of subjective losses that are not as easily quantified. Although Indiana law does not allow people to collect compensation for their grief in wrongful death suits, surviving family members can collect money for other less tangible damages in certain situations. For example, this could include the loss of a child’s companionship and love, the loss of parental guidance, or the decedent’s pain and suffering or loss of love, care, and affection.

Are There Any Limits or Caps on Wrongful Death Damages?

Indiana Code § 34-23-1-2 sets forth caps and limits on possible recoverable damages in wrongful death lawsuits in Terre Haute. Not every family member can collect the same types of damages or even the same amounts. Compensation depends on particular facts about the deceased person and their relationships with their heirs.

Deceased Person With No Dependents or Spouse

If the deceased adult person was unmarried and had no dependents, the estate may only be able to recover a maximum of $300,000 for the loss of companionship and love, in addition to medical and burial expenses.

Deceased Person Was Married or Had Children

If the decedent was married or had children, the estate would not be subject to a compensation cap.

Deceased Person Was a Child

There are no damage caps for the loss of a child under Indiana law.

We know that trying to understand the specific damage caps and other statutory limitations on the recovery of damages can be confusing, which is why it is critical to work with an experienced local attorney.

Meet With a Terre Haute Lawyer About Potential Damages in Your Wrongful Death Claim

After losing your loved one, your family might need financial support. The good news is, you may be eligible to collect damages from the person or entity responsible for causing your loved one’s untimely death. Contact an attorney from Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin today. We know how to help grieving families in Terre Haute obtain damages after the death of a loved one.