Noneconomic Damages in Chesapeake Wrongful Death Cases

In addition to recovering for the financial losses resulting from the wrongful death of a loved one Virginia also allows families to recover compensation for the losses that are more difficult to quantify such as the loss of companionship and grief. These are called noneconomic damages and they play an important role in Chesapeake wrongful death cases.

The dedicated wrongful death attorneys from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can help determine what compensation may be appropriate in your case. We can then work to illustrate the full extent of your loss to get you the compensation you need and deserve.

Common Noneconomic Damages

There are several categories of noneconomic losses available in a wrongful death case. One of those categories is grief. Grief is difficult to quantify as there is no statute in the Code of Virginia that provides a monetary figure to compensate for this loss. Instead, the loss must be illustrated through testimony about how important the person was to them, the time they enjoyed together, and the role they played in the family. If the family is able to illustrate the cost of this loss, the jurors can determine a dollar amount to compensate for the family members for their losses.

Compensation for loss of society provides for losses such as the loss of the relationship between a parent and a child. For example, when a child is a decedent, these damages include compensation for the milestones in the child’s life. The parents may describe those losses and talk about why they were looking forward to a wedding, grandchildren, and having the child be able to take care of them when they got older.

Finally, the law permits spouses to recover for this loss of companionship when one of the parties is deceased because of the negligence of someone else. The survivor must find ways to make sure the mortgage and bills are paid, keep the children in college, and put food on the table and they may become solely responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the home and vehicles. Their quality of life changes with the loss of income. These are all compensable losses that can count as loss of companionship. An attorney can further explain the different noneconomic damages available in a claim.

Calculating Damages in Chesapeake

An experienced wrongful death attorney can help illustrate the depth of the loss of a loved one by helping family members provide examples that describe the true effects of the loss. That includes the milestones in life the deceased person is going to miss such as birthdays, weddings, and holidays. A surviving spouse can further describe the hardship that having a smaller income causes and having to work extra hours or take a second job to make up the difference. These are the real-life examples that help illustrate the non-economic damages.

When necessary, an experienced attorney can also work with experts who can help quantify these losses. Psychological experts are often used to help illustrate noneconomic losses. For example, if a child lost a parent, a psychologist can speak with them to assess the depth of the loss and then explain this to the court. An attorney can further explain the process of calculating noneconomic losses.

Ask An Attorney About Noneconomic Damages in Chesapeake Wrongful Death Cases

Although no amount of money can compensate you for the loss of your loved one, it can help you move forward following this loss. An attorney can explain the role of noneconomic damages in Chesapeake wrongful death cases. Call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation to get started.