1. The deceased individual’s immediate family, including their spouse, parents, children or the children’s descendants if all others are deceased.
2. The deceased individual’s surviving siblings or their subsequent descendants if they are deceased.
3. A court appointed “plaintiff ad litem” on behalf of any person entitled to a share of the proceeds.

In the state of Missouri, any of these parties may file a lawsuit with a wrongful death law firm within three years following the date of death. However, only one action may be brought to court for the wrongful death, with the highest tier taking priority.

Compensation Categories

As experienced partners of our wrongful death law firm, our attorneys will help you pursue financial compensation for your loss, including both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

This form of compensation is intended to ease the financial burden associated with losing a loved one. It includes:

• Medical expenses prior to death. Prior to their passing, your loved one may have undergone medical treatments that left you with a medical bill. Economic damages may cover the cost of the hospital stay from the time they were admitted to the time of their death.
• Funeral and burial costs. Economic damages may cover the hefty cost of a funeral, including the coffin, plot of land, headstone and services.
• Loss of income. This is particularly important if the deceased individual was the primary breadwinner for their family. Economic damages may cover bills and the cost of living required to keep their family afloat.

Non-Economic Damages

Losing a loved one is not only a financial burden on families — the emotional devastation is just as significant. Fortunately, Missouri courts recognize that and may factor any of the following into additional damages in a wrongful death lawsuit:

• Loss of guidance
• Loss of love and companionship
• Loss of services
• Loss of support
• Loss of counsel
• Loss of instruction