Wrongful death lawsuits can help to provide grieving families with closure after a sudden tragedy. Families may feel vindicated when the courts agree with the claim that an individual or business caused the death of their loved one.
Wrongful death lawsuits also help reduce the financial damage caused by premature mortality. When people lose their loved ones, they lose the income that they could have provided. They may have to absorb funeral costs and medical expenses. All of that can contribute to the amount of compensation sought in a wrongful death lawsuit. Survivors may also want to consider making a claim related to the economic value of lost household services.
What are household chores actually worth?
Families tend to have arrangements in place for the division of property maintenance and daily household needs. Everyone contributes to maintaining a comfortable home and keeping costs as low as possible.
Parents often manage major household matters and transport everyone in the household, while older children and teenagers might assist with cleaning and yard work. Services ranging from vehicle maintenance to child care can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.
Researchers estimate that stay-at-home parents provide more than $4,500 worth of unpaid work in average cases. The more time people dedicate to their families, the more children there are in the household and the more services they take responsibility for, the greater the economic impact of losing their unpaid labor.
Families may be able to seek compensation for the lifetime value of those unpaid services. Maximizing the compensation sought can provide a measure of justice to those affected by the tragic passing of a family member. Families may be able to request compensation for unpaid home services provided by a deceased loved one in a wrongful death lawsuit. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to learn more.