How Are Damages Distributed in Wrongful Death Cases?

The wrongful death of a loved one can have wide-reaching impacts on surviving family members, including leaving them without income or the ability to pay for funeral expenses.

2012-11-30

COLUMBUS, OH, November 30, 2012 (Press-News.org) The wrongful death of a loved one can have wide-reaching impacts on surviving family members, including leaving them without income or the ability to pay for funeral expenses.

The Columbus, Ohio, wrongful death attorneys at Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A., have years of experience helping the families of wrongful death victims recover the financial compensation they need and peace of mind they deserve when a loved one dies as the result of another's negligence. Ohio wrongful death law allows surviving family members to pursue damages including financial compensation for:

- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of support
- Loss of services
- Loss of society
- Loss of prospective inheritance
- Mental anguish
- Funeral and burial expenses

When a wrongful death lawsuit is successfully litigated or settled in Ohio, the awarded damages are distributed equitably among the decedent's beneficiaries according to the order of the probate court in the county in which the deceased individual resided. Beneficiaries in Ohio wrongful death cases may include:

- Spouse
- Parents
- Children
- Siblings
- Grandparents

The wrongful death lawsuit must be brought on behalf of surviving family members by the executor of the decedent's estate or another representative appointed by the court. In successful wrongful death cases, the probate court may appoint a legal guardian to protect the interests of beneficiaries who are either children or mentally incompetent; the probate court may also order the distribution of damages to dependent children to be placed in a trust fund until the child reaches the age of 25.

For more information about wrongful death lawsuits, please see our Questions about Wrongful Death page.

If you believe your family member died as the result of another's negligence, please contact Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A., for your free case consultation. Our compassionate wrongful death attorneys are ready to help you through this difficult time.

Website: http://rwklaw.com

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