Rights of Family Members in Wrongful Death Claims

Ontario’s Family Law Act gives you the right to hold another party responsible if that party caused your loved one’s death. That’s welcomed news for families struggling with the financial losses that come with a loved one’s death.

The law specifically provides this right to the decedent’s spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters. They are entitled to recover damages commensurate with their pecuniary loss resulting from their loved one’s death.

The Act mentions several types of damages you may recover if you lost a loved one.

• Expenses from the accident that the decedent incurred, such as those prior to death
• Funeral expenses
• Travel expenses incurred to visit the decedent during his or her treatment
• Loss of income
• Loss of services like housekeeping or other services (or a reasonable valuable of the services)
• Loss of guidance, care, and companionship reasonably expected from the decedent had he or she not passed away

Talk to our wrongful death lawyers in Toronto about these damages and which you may recover. This is the best way to estimate the value your wrongful death lawsuit and to build a case to establish your entitlement to these damages.

Wrongful Death Lawyers in Toronto Can Help if You Lost a Loved One

The wrongful death lawyers in Toronto from the Preszler Law Firm hold responsible any party who causes another person’s death. We help families who lost a loved one get the compensation they need to cover funeral expenses, pay medical bills, and meet other obligations.

Statutory Accident Benefits for a Fatal Car Wreck
Our wrongful death lawyers in Toronto can help you take legal action after a variety of fatal accidents. But special circumstances exist when the cause of death was an auto accident.

Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits provide the policyholder with certain benefits after a wreck. But they also provide a Death Benefit if the policyholder passed away within 180 days of the wreck or within 156 weeks if the decedent suffered an injury resulting in continuous disability.

The deceased’s spouse or ex-spouse, those dependent on the deceased, and those on whom the deceased was dependent may file a claim for Statutory Accident Benefits. The spouse may receive a $25,000 Death Benefit, or $50,000 if the policyholder purchased higher coverage.

Dependents can also get a Death Benefit of $10,000, or $20,000 if the policyholder purchased higher coverage. If the deceased was a dependent, then the person responsible for the deceased’s financial support or his or her care provider is entitled to this benefit.

Funeral benefits pay up to $6,000 or $8,000 if the policyholder purchased higher coverage.

You don’t need to establish fault for the accident in order to collect these benefits. Just work with our wrongful death lawyers in Toronto to make sure you recover all damages and benefits to which you’re entitled.

What else do I need to know about filing a wrongful death lawsuit?
If you’re filing a lawsuit based on liability of another party, then you’ll need to establish evidence of that party’s negligence and fault. You’ll also need to establish the damages that you suffered because of your loved one’s death.

Wrongful death lawyers in Toronto from the Preszler Law Firm help you manage all aspects of your case and build a legal argument to hold the liable party responsible. Ready to get started? Then call us at 1-800-JUSTICE®.