Wrongful Death Settlement Calculator

What a Wrongful Death Claim Recovers

Wrongful death damages compensate the surviving family for both financial and personal losses, and many states allow a separate “survival” claim for the deceased’s own pre-death suffering.

• Lost financial support

  The income and benefits the deceased would have provided over their lifetime.

• Loss of companionship & guidance

  The non-economic loss of the relationship, care, and guidance.

• Funeral, burial & final medical bills

  Out-of-pocket costs from the death and any pre-death care.

• Survival action

  In many states, a separate claim for the deceased’s conscious pain and suffering before death.

Illustration only — age, income, dependents, and state law drive the number.

Who Can File

• Spouse

  A surviving spouse almost always has standing.

• Children

  Surviving children (and sometimes adult children) can typically recover.

• Parents

  Parents of a deceased minor — and sometimes of an adult child — may have standing.

• Personal representative

  The estate’s representative usually files the suit on behalf of the eligible survivors.

How a Wrongful Death Case Proceeds

1. 1

   Open the estate

   A personal representative is appointed to bring the claim.

2. 2

   Investigate liability

   Establish who caused the death and gather evidence before it degrades.

3. 3

   Value the losses

   Economists and life-care planners often quantify lost support and services.

4. 4

   File before the deadline

   Wrongful death statutes run from the date of death and can be short (1–3 years).

Survival Actions vs. Wrongful Death

These two claims are often confused but are distinct — and can be brought together.