Dealing with a death of a friend or family member is traumatic and overwhelming. When the death was caused by the negligence of another, it can make the grieving process even more difficult. Whether the death is caused by an automobile collision, medical negligence, or a faulty product, when someone else’s neglect and carelessness causes a death, the wrongdoer is responsible for making up for the loss done to the family.

When a wrongful death occurs in Ohio, the beneficiaries (i.e., spouse, children, parents, siblings) may bring a wrongful death claim against the wrongdoer for the loss they suffered as a result of the death.

These beneficiaries can recover for loss of reasonably expected earning capacity, loss of prospective inheritance, funeral and burial expenses, mental anguish, and loss of companionship.

The attorneys at Goodson & Company handle wrongful death cases with compassion and understand the enormity of the loss the beneficiaries have suffered. If possible, we attempt to get a fair settlement without the beneficiaries having to go through a trial. But, when the insurance company for the wrongdoer will not be fair, we will stand ready with the family to go to trial and seek justice.

Ohio’s wrongful death law provides that family members and next of kin can recover for the following losses when a person is killed due to the negligent conduct of another:

1) Lost income
2) Lost services
3) Funeral and burial expenses
4) Mental anguish
5) Loss of companionship

Each and every case is unique, and the analysis of loss is different in each case. There may be little lost income to the family due to the death of a 5 year old or 85 year old. But, the mental anguish and loss of

companionship is immeasurable. Other cases involve tremendous loss of income and future earning power.

It is fair to say that insurance companies usually do not want to pay the full value of the loss so many cases end up in litigation. This is not something to be feared by victims. There is nothing more heart warming than to hear from a parade of witnesses how generous, kind, and good the loved one was in life. Civil trials for wrongful death, although emotional, often become a celebration of life. Juries in Ohio are usually very fair when it comes to payment of damages for victims of wrongful death.