An article published by nbclosangeles.com entitled “’Voice’ Singer’s Family Will Refill Wrongful Death Suit”, reported that the attorney of the family of singer Christina Grimme stated that he will be refiling an amended wrongful death lawsuit against the promoter and venue where ‘The Voice’ contestant was fatally shot. The lawsuit accused the tour promoter AEG Live and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Plaza Foundation of failing to provide adequate security measures to protect the twenty two year old singer. This article will discuss what a wrongful death claim is, the time limits on filing a wrongful death claim and types of damages associated with wrongful death claims. Comments will be provided by an attorney and spokesperson from the Timothy J. Ryan & Associates law firm.

The attorney stated that a “wrongful death claim exists when a person dies as a result of the legal fault of another person. The concept is fairly new as Common Law did not allow for such a kind of lawsuit. The right to bring a wrongful death action was created during the last century and every state in the country has some kind of wrongful death claim.” The attorney further noted that wrongful death claims involved all types of fatalities relating to accidents for example, car accidents, slips and falls, bicycle accidents, firearm accidents, medical malpractice, defective products as well as nursing home abuse. According to the Cornell Law School - Legal Information Institute a wrongful death is defined as, “a death caused by the wrongful act of another, either accidentally or intentionally. A claim for wrongful death is made by a family member of a deceased person to obtain compensation for having to live without that person.”

As with any personal injury claim wrongful death claims in California must be filed within the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is the legal term meaning within a specific period or deadline. The California statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim to be filed is within two years of the date of the deceased’s death. Where the case is not filed in the states civil court system within the two year deadline, the family will almost certainly lose their rights to file the case at all.

Some of the types of damages associated with a wrongful death claim include:

Economic damages - these include the value of the financial contributions the victim would have made to the survivors had he or she not died. For example, medical and financial expenses associated with the death, loss of expected earnings and loss of benefits.
Non-economic damages - these are less tangible damages and do not have an exact dollar figure tied to them, for example damages for the survivors’ pain and suffering or mental anguish, loss of consortium in the case of the death of a spouse.

If your loved one died as a result of another person’s wrongful act follow the link, to find a law firm of renowned professionals for specialize in wrongful death claims.