You can lose the ones you love for the most mundane reasons. A seemingly innocent meal purchased at a local grocery store can cost you more than you intended to pay.
Late last year, grieving mother Shantria Weddle filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Weddle’s 12-year-old daughter, Iyhari, died after she consumed a contaminated chicken product from a well-known meat processor.
While devastating, this tragic event highlights a potential source of relief for parents. In Indiana, the state’s wrongful death laws can help grieving parents deal with some of the financial struggles that come with losing a child.
What can your family recover in a wrongful death case in Indiana?
Indiana law allows families to seek compensation for the death of a child under 20 who is unmarried and has no dependents. Biological parents or legal guardians may be able to get compensation for things like:
- Medical expenses: This includes hospital bills, therapy costs and other medical fees related to the child’s injury and death.
- Funeral and burial expenses: This helps cover the costs for the child’s funeral, burial or cremation services.
- Counselling fees: This covers the reasonable cost of psychological therapy or counselling for the surviving parent due to the child’s death.
- Estate administration costs: Financial support may be given for the legal handling of the child’s estate.
- Loss of the child’s love and companionship: This compensation is based on the jury’s assessment, as this type of loss is difficult to quantify.
With strong supporting evidence, these claims can help families recover financially after a devastating loss. Consulting a personal injury attorney can help you navigate legal concerns during this difficult period.
Recovering from the loss and moving forward
Losing a loved one brings indescribable hurt, and losing a child is not something a parent should ever have to experience. But in the midst of it all, knowing that your family has legal rights to financial compensation may alleviate some of the difficulties in coping with this loss.
As grieving parents begin the journey of healing, these claims can allow them to focus on remembrance and finding a path forward.