Grieving survivors who file wrongful death lawsuits can ask the courts to substantiate their claim that a person or business caused the death at issue. They can also request compensation for the economic consequences of the tragedy.
Wrongful death lawsuits often include requests for the lost future income of the person who died. Compensation for the loss of their household services can also be an important contributing factor to the overall amount of compensation awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit.
What are household services worth?
Most adults perform unpaid work for their families. Each of the services they routinely provide has an economic value. Grocery shopping, child care, meal preparation and cleaning can cost hundreds of dollars or more per month when families rely on professionals for those services.
Research indicates that a stay-at-home parent provides more than $1,000 in unpaid labor to their families every week on average. If a parent cared for multiple young children or managed numerous family tasks on a regular basis, hiring outside professionals could cost hundreds of dollars per week.
Families may need help estimating the actual fair market value of the services their loved one can no longer provide for their household. The process often begins with a list of household services and the amount of time the deceased person committed to those tasks each week or month.
Reviewing the impact of a tragedy with a personal injury attorney can help families estimate their losses and build a strong case before going to court. An accurate estimate of the financial impact of the tragedy is important for those seeking justice after someone dies.