wrongful death

wrongful death
wrongful death n: a death caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act, neglect, omission, or default of another
sought damages for the wrongful death of their murdered daughter

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

wrongful death
n.
A statutory offense or tort for death caused by a wrongful act or negligence for which an action can be brought on behalf of the dead person’s beneficiaries.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


wrongful death
A death caused by the wrongful act of another, either accidentally or intentionally. A claim for wrongful death is made by a family member of a deceased person to obtain compensation for having to live without that person. The compensation is intended to cover the earnings and the emotional comfort and support the deceased person would have provided.
Category: Accidents & Injuries
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


wrongful death
The taking of the life of an individual resulting from the willful or negligent act of another person or persons.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


wrongful death
The taking of the life of an individual resulting from the willful or negligent act of another person or persons.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

wrongful death
n.
   the death of a human being as the result of a wrongful act of another person. Such wrongful acts include: negligence (like careless driving), an inten- tional attack such as assault and/or battery, a death in the course of another crime, vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter or murder. Wrongful death is the basis for a lawsuit (wrongful death action) against the party or parties who caused the death filed on behalf of the members of the family who have lost the company and support of the deceased. Thus, a child might be entitled to compensation for the personal loss of a father as well as the amount of financial support the child would have received from the now-dead parent while a minor, a wife would recover damages for loss of her husband's love and companionship and a lifetime of expected support, while a parent would be limited to damages for loss of companionship but not support. A lawsuit for wrongful death may be filed by the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased or by the individual beneficiaries (family members).

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • wrongful death — noun a death that results from a wrongful act or from negligence; a death that can serve as the basis for a civil action for damages on behalf of the dead person s family or heirs • Hypernyms: ↑death, ↑decease, ↑expiry * * * noun, pl ⋯ deaths… …   Useful english dictionary

  • wrongful death action — n: an action that is brought by and in the name of the personal representative (as a spouse or parent) of one who dies a wrongful death and that seeks damages for the benefit of the survivors or the estate of the decedent compare survival action… …   Law dictionary

  • Wrongful death claim — Wrongful death is a claim in common law jurisdictions against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives, as enumerated by statute. Under common law, a dead person cannot bring… …   Wikipedia

  • wrongful-death action — n. A lawsuit brought alleging damages from a wrongful act, default, or negligent behavior that resulted in the aforementioned s demise. Such action may be brought by the executor or administrator of the decedent s estate, as well as his or her… …   Law dictionary

  • wrongful death — noun Date: 1952 a death caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act, neglect, omission, or default of another …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • wrongful death — An action provided by constitution or statute to recover from one whose wrongful act, neglect or default has resulted in the death of another person. 22 Am J2d Dth § 2 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • wrongful death — Law. the death of a person wrongfully caused, as comprising the grounds of a damage suit. * * * …   Universalium

  • wrongful death statute — noun A statute that provides relief from the common law rule that the death of an individual cannot be the basis of a cause of action in a civil suit …   Wiktionary

  • wrongful — wrong·ful / rȯŋ fəl/ adj 1: constituting a wrong; esp: injurious to the rights of another a wrongful act or omission 2: unlawful remained in wrongful occupation of the property a wrongful occupant …   Law dictionary

  • wrongful act — I noun breach, breach of legal duty, civil wrong, contravention, delinquency, dereliction, dereliction of duty, guilty act, illegality, impropriety, injustice, malefaction, malpractice, misbehavior, misconduct, misdeed, misdoing, misfeasance,… …   Law dictionary

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