Wrongful Death
Wrongful death lawsuits are actions, generally based on a state statute, that allow the close relatives of a person who was injured and died as a result of a wrongful act to recover for lost financial and emotional support. The wrongful act may be negligent, such as careless driving; reckless; or deliberate, such as an intentional murder. And the prosecution of the alleged wrongdoer under a criminal statute wrongful death law does not preclude a private, wrongful death suit.