Our Nashville wrongful death attorneys have been called upon to represent the families of many people who have died as a result of the mistakes of another. One question we are frequently asked in these cases is what type of damages may be recovered.
Tennessee law permits the following damages to be recovered in wrongful death cases arising from automobile accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, or any other type of event where negligence causes death:
- medical expenses
- lost wages from the date of injury to death
- funeral expenses
- pain, suffering, disfigurement, disability and loss of enjoyment of life from the date of injury to the date of death
Damages can also be recovered for what is called the "pecuniary value of life." This includes damages for the present value of future earnings (reduced by the amount of expenses that would have been incurred by decedent to keep the decedent alive so that he or she would have been able to work) plus damages for loss of love, society and affection between the decedent and certain family members.