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How Much Is a Case Worth for a Wrongful Death Claim
In California, there is no fixed price tag on a life. Instead, the value of a claim is built on the unique financial and emotional story of your family. Understanding how the law weighs these losses is the first step toward securing your future.
The “Paper” Losses: Economic Damages
These are the numbers we can actually prove with an invoice or a tax return. It’s the “math” side of the case:- Funeral & Burial: The immediate, often overwhelming costs of saying goodbye.
- Lost Financial Support: This isn’t just today’s paycheck. It’s the promotions, the raises, and the retirement contributions they would have made over the next 20 or 30 years.
- Household Services: If the person who passed away handled the childcare, the cooking, or the home maintenance, that has a real market value that needs to be replaced.
The “Heart” Losses: Non-Economic Damages
This is where things get personal. How do you put a dollar amount on a parent’s guidance or a spouse’s companionship? In California, juries are told to use their “common sense” to award a reasonable amount for the loss of love, protection, and moral support.
A key detail many people miss: Under CACI 3921 (California Jury Instructions), the law actually looks at the life expectancy of both the deceased and the person filing the claim—whichever is shorter. It’s a cold piece of math in a very emotional process.
What Actually Moves the Needle?
The “worth” of your case often comes down to the evidence. We look at the age of the deceased, their career path, and the strength of the bond within the family. But we also have to look at the defendant’s insurance policy limits—sometimes the most tragic cases are limited by the available coverage.
At Pyramid Legal, we don’t treat these like “files.” We treat them like the life-changing events they are. If you’re trying to navigate this, don’t rely on a generic online calculator. Let’s sit down and look at the specifics of what your family has actually lost.
