Wrongful death claims are brought by surviving family members or an estate representative, and damages typically include the deceased's lost future earnings, funeral and burial costs, and the family's loss of companionship, guidance, and support — categories this calculator estimates separately before combining them.
This tool uses the multiplier method: (medical bills + lost wages) × a pain-and-suffering multiplier based on injury severity (1.5x for minor, 3x for moderate, 5x for severe), minus any reduction for your percentage of fault. It's the same starting-point approach insurance adjusters commonly use in negotiations — not a guaranteed outcome.
If you select a state, this tool applies that state's actual comparative/contributory negligence rule and, where researched, its noneconomic-damages cap for this claim type — see the methodology page for exactly which states and rules are currently covered. If your state's rule bars recovery at your entered fault percentage, this tool shows an explanation instead of a dollar amount — that percentage is your own estimate, not a legal finding, and several of these rules have real exceptions.
It varies by state, but typically a surviving spouse, children, or parents, or the personal representative of the deceased's estate on behalf of those beneficiaries.
Based on the deceased's earning history, age, expected working years remaining, and benefits — often with input from an economist for larger claims.
Compensation for physical injury or death is generally excluded from federal taxable income, though punitive damages and interest on the settlement are typically taxable.