A Tennessee wrongful death claim may allow eligible beneficiaries to recover certain financial losses tied to a loved one’s death. In some cases, that includes expenses paid before death, lost income and the value of services the person provided to the household.
Medical expenses before death
If the person survived for a period after the injury, recoverable damages may include medical expenses resulting from those injuries, such as:
- Emergency treatment
- Hospital care
- Surgery
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Medical equipment
Keep bills, insurance records and receipts. These records can help document the medical expenses connected to the injury.
Lost income and financial support
A death can also eliminate future income and other financial support. Tennessee wrongful death damages may include the pecuniary value of the decedent’s life, which can include financial contributions, services and other benefits depending on the evidence. A claim may consider the person’s age, health, work history, earning capacity and likely future income. It may also include other financial benefits the person would have provided.
Household services
A loved one may also have provided services at home that do not show up on a paycheck. These can include:
- Childcare
- Home maintenance
- Transportation
- Household management
- Other regular family support
The value of those household services may also be considered when determining the pecuniary value of the decedent’s life. Records and testimony can help establish the services the person provided and the financial or practical impact of their loss.
How to document the loss
Families should save medical bills, wage records, tax returns, benefit records, receipts and any other proof of the financial impact. They should also gather information about the care and services the deceased provided.The damages available in a Tennessee wrongful death claim depend on the facts and the law. An attorney can review the losses, identify what may be recoverable and help gather the evidence needed to support the claim.
