Calculating a Settlement in a Wrongful Death Case

Losing a loved one is painful. The last thing you want to worry about on top of the death of your loved one is the potential financial burdens that may come your way. If you believe your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s negligent actions, you need to speak to a Louisiana wrongful death attorney.

A personal injury lawyer in Louisiana can help you understand your options for recovering compensation to ease the financial burdens you may face after your loved one’s death. You need someone in your corner with experience to fight for you and your family after the passing of a loved one in Louisiana. To understand what compensation may be available to you, call Attorney of Counsel of Carabin Shaw, Berit Hanna, to discuss your options.

A wrongful death claim is a lawsuit where the defendant or defendants’ negligence caused someone’s death. To have a wrongful death case, your lawyer must prove that the death would not have occurred if not for the negligent actions of the defendant.

Calculating a settlement in a wrongful death case will never be 100% accurate because placing a monetary value on human life is not possible. Wrongful death cases are an attempt to accurately account for financial losses and emotional pain and suffering caused by an untimely death.

There are two main types of damages to consider when attempting to get a rough estimate of what a wrongful death case could be worth in Louisiana: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the types of damages that you and your lawyer will be able to prove with records and evidence. These damages are more concrete and therefore easier for an attorney to estimate the value of before beginning your case.

Economic damages are centered around the financial contribution the deceased person would have provided to their family members over the course of their life if they had lived a full lifespan. Economists, accountants, and other financial experts are usually used in wrongful death cases to ensure that economic damages are accounted for fairly and accurately.

General details to consider when calculating economic damages in a wrongful death case include:

• The deceased person’s age
• The deceased person’s health before their death
• Their income before their death and future earnings potential
• The deceased’s person's degree of education and training
• The age of the deceased’s dependants
• Funeral expenses
• Medical bills and other expenses
• Pension and medical insurance

Non-economic damages are harder to calculate than economic damages because they are not rooted in existing numbers and data. Non-economic damages seek to compensate for the emotional hardships suffered from losing a loved one. A Louisiana wrongful death attorney will fight to give you your best shot at receiving compensation for the emotional pain and suffering you’ve been through since the loss of your loved one.

• Loss of companionship, love, support, or protection
• Loss of guidance

Personal injury lawyers in Louisiana have devoted their lives to fighting and winning cases like yours and will increase your chances of getting the money you deserve. Wrongful death cases are complex because they are partly subjective in nature. Presenting evidence clearly while making sure that you are not getting bullied into accepting a smaller settlement than you deserve is what a seasoned attorney can do for you.

Having someone like Attorney of Counsel of Carabin Shaw, Berit Hanna, fighting on your behalf after the death of a loved one can help you get the most out of your case. Call the offices of Carabin Shaw today for a free, no-obligation consultation at 1-800-555-0101. You need an experienced attorney on your side.