Motorcycle Accidents and Wrongful Death Lawsuits

The fatality rate for motorcycle accidents is very high. As a result, many motorcycle accident lawsuits are wrongful death lawsuits. Wrongful death lawsuits are cases in which a family member of the victim chooses to sue the negligent person responsible for their loved one's death.

If you have a family member who was recently killed in a motorcycle accident and you are thinking about filing a wrongful death lawsuit, you should be sure that the following can be proved before going forward:

• The death was caused, in whole or part, by the conduct of the defendant
• The defendant was negligent or strictly liable for the victim's death
• There is a surviving spouse, children, beneficiaries or dependants
• Monetary or emotional damages have resulted from the victim's death

The types of damages that can be sought in a wrongful death lawsuit vary a fair amount from those of a regular personal injury case. Family members, beneficiaries or dependants involved in the lawsuit may seek damages in the form of:

• Any hospital expenses, home care or other medical expenses resulting from medical care for the victim prior to the death.
• Sorrow and mental anguish caused by the loss of companionship felt after the death
• Compensation for loss of income that was brought in by the victim
• Loss of services, protection, care or assistance which were provided to beneficiaries by the victim
• Loss of future earnings that would have been made by the victim
• Loss of medical benefits
• Loss of inheritance
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral expenses up to a certain point

Wrongful death lawsuits make it possible for justice to be served in a civil court even after death.