St. Louis personal injury claims arise when a person is injured physically or emotionally by the actions or conduct of another individual or business entity (retail store, employer, bus company, etc.). However, when the victim (the “decedent”) dies as a result of his injuries, he is obviously unable to bring suit himself. When this occurs, the victim’s family members or the decedent’s estate may file a wrongful death claim to recover damages for the injuries that the surviving family members and/or the decedent’s estate have suffered as a result of the victim’s death.

When an individual dies after being grievously injured, his death takes not only an emotional toll on his family but can endanger his family’s financial stability and, thereby, his family’s future lifestyle. Families are left to cope with funeral expenses and often with expensive medical bills incurred in the effort to save their loved one’s life. But the family’s loss of a spouse or parent goes far beyond immediate expenses. In addition to the lifelong loss of a parent or spouse’s emotional support, loss of future income can impact the family’s housing choices, the surviving spouse’s employment decisions, child care requirements, children’s college options, and a host of other family decisions.

While no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one, the wrongful death attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman are expert in helping the families of personal injury victims recover the financial security lost when loved ones die.