What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A Loved One Has Died As A Result Of Wrongful Death- Here’s What You Need To Know Now In Virginia, a wrongful death occurs when someone dies as a result of another person or entity’s wrongful act, negligence, or recklessness. A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil action brought by the family through the estate of the deceased to seek compensation for the losses they’ve suffered. This is different from a criminal case, which is brought by the state and may result in jail time or fines. A wrongful death case is about securing financial recovery for the beneficiaries. Key Differences from Personal Injury Lawsuits Let’s take a closer look at the main differences between a wrongful death lawsuit and a personal injury claim. The Victim Can’t File the Lawsuit In a personal injury case, the injured person sues for damages. In a wrongful death case, the person is deceased, so the lawsuit is filed by personal representative of the estate suing for recovery for the statutory beneficiari...