Wrongful death occurs when a person suffers fatal injuries as the result of another person’s negligent, wrongful, or unlawful actions. These injuries can be caused by a variety of incidents, including:

• Motor vehicle accident
• Homicide
• Fire
• Fall
• Drowning
• Poisoning with drugs or toxic chemicals
• Firearms, including accidents and intentional acts

When the death of a family member is caused by another person’s actions, it can be especially devastating for those who must deal with the sudden and unexpected loss. In addition to the emotional trauma, families must then contend with issues that arise as a result of the death, such as loss of income they were dependent upon, and expenses associated with death and burial of those who have died.

Individuals or entities can be found responsible for causing a wrongful death even if they did not intend to cause harm. If they acted carelessly, negligently, or recklessly and the result was death, those persons or entities can be held liable for the death caused. Even failing to act may be enough to establish liability depending on the legal duty imposed on certain classes of individuals or entities, such as a homeowner who fails to fence in a backyard pool.

In Connecticut, family members can recover losses for:

• Financial support the decedent would have provided over a lifetime, including wages and other income
• Economic benefit that would have been provided, for example by a stay-at-home mother or father raising children, or an adult caring for an aging parent
• Companionship, comfort, emotional support, marital relationship including sexual relations, parental relationship including physical care for small children, and the like that the decedent would have given family members during his or her lifetime.

In some circumstances families can recover damages for their loved one’s medical bills, lost earnings, property damage or other losses incurred before death. If the wrongdoer flagrantly disregarded known dangers, or acted with extraordinary recklessness, sometimes a family can obtain punitive damages – a monetary award designed to punish the responsible party and deter others from acting similarly in the future.

At The Scalora Law Group, we know that no amount of money can ever replace a loved one or lessen the emotional impact of such a tragic loss. However, in such a situation, monetary recovery can at the very least assist a family with the financial losses.

If a loved one has been the victim of a wrongful death, contact The Scalora Law Group for a free legal consultation. We are experienced in wrongful death cases and have an established track record getting compensation for families of wrongful death victims. Contact us today at 860-344-9051 or fill out our contact form to have an attorney call you back immediately.