Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Answer:

In several recent wrongful death claims that we’ve handled at our law firm, we’ve been asked the question of who the proper person is to qualify to represent the family in pursuing a claim for wrongful death. The simple answer is that you do not need to be a family member in order to qualify as a representative to pursue the claim on behalf of the deceased for personal injuries or death.However, the measure of damages is determined, and the class of beneficiaries who receive those damages is determined by your family relationship. In other words, the people who are the immediate family to the deceased person are the ones entitled to recover the damages. Oftentimes, families come to me and say, “We are so distraught by this loss, we don’t feel capable of being able to do all of the administrative tasks associated with your claim,” and in those cases, you can find an outside person, an independent representative, to qualify in order to file your claim in court.