A simple act of negligence in New Mexico can result in the death of a loved one. Whether it was intentional or not, you and your family have to deal with the consequences of another person’s recklessness. You can’t undo what happened, but you may be able to file a lawsuit to recover various damages.
What kinds of damages can you claim in a wrongful death lawsuit?
When you launch a wrongful death lawsuit, your personal injury attorney may advise you to seek damages for medical bills and funeral costs. This includes the cost of any surgeries, treatments and hospital stays that your loved one had to treat their injuries before they died.
If you were financially dependent on this individual, you could also sue the responsible party for lost income. Your attorney may be able to figure out how much money your loved one could have theoretically earned if they had been able to work until retirement. You could also sue for pain and suffering damages related to the grief that you and your family members have experienced.
Finally, some states allow you to sue for punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the party who caused your loved one’s death and prevent such negligence from ever occurring in the future.
How can you file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Some deaths are simply a tragic accident. However, if you suspect that someone could have prevented your loved one’s death, or inadvertently caused it, you might have a wrongful death lawsuit on your hands.
An attorney may assess the damages and help you figure out a fair amount of compensation. They may also help you find evidence to prove that the other party was responsible for your loved one’s death and had a duty of care toward that person. Your attorney might call witnesses who were involved in the scene to back up your claim.
