Family members have to make major adjustments when someone dies unexpectedly. If the death is the result of a car crash or a similar situation, then the surviving family members might hope to bring a wrongful death claim against the business or individual to blame for their loss.
Funeral expenses are just one of many costs families will have to absorb when someone dies unexpectedly. Who pays funeral expenses after a wrongful death in California?
The family typically has to pay for the funeral
Unless someone has a life insurance policy or a prepaid funeral plan, their family members will typically need to fund the cost of their funeral and burial. Even with life insurance, delays in payout may force the family to finance the funeral themselves.
The average cost of a funeral with a burial in California is $7,290, although that drops to $4,808 for cremation. Suddenly needing to pay thousands of dollars can be a major financial hurdle, but thankfully, families can claim compensation for those costs later. They may also be able to seek lost wages and loss of support. If there were medical costs and other expenses incurred before the deceased person passed, the family may also have grounds for a survival action as well.
Although it is unlikely for family members to resolve a wrongful death claim before the time to pay for the funeral arrives, they will be able to keep records of those expenses and include them in their wrongful death proceedings later. Understanding what compensation you can request in a California wrongful death lawsuit will help your family cover the expenses incurred after a loss.
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