What can I do after I lose my partner?
Losing a spouse can seem unimaginable. It can seem like there are no answers to what you’re facing. But when their passing might be someone else’s fault, there could be compensation in play to help you move forward.
The U.S. saw over 167,000 preventable deaths in 2018, a number that has increased by 93% since 1992. Determining how to proceed is no small matter when it happens to your family, but Kentucky’s laws could show you the way in the case of wrongful death.
Pressing help
Kentucky considers wrongful death to be the result of negligence that causes your loved one’s loss of life. How your case proceeds depends on the circumstances:
- Parties: The person or party that is responsible for the death could be held accountable. A building owner who ignored safety hazards, an inattentive physician who committed a surgical error or a trucking company running vehicles with defects might all fit the bill.
- Damages: The liable party could be on the hook for costs stemming from the accident, but intent or gross negligence can bring in additional penalties. Punitive damages may also be on the table for these types of offenders.
- Family: While the representative of the estate will likely bring the case, the family is often the one to benefit. You and your children will usually be among the primary recipients.
Getting help recovering after the death of your partner may seem daunting, but there could be a way. Understanding the system in Kentucky could be the first step in the right direction.