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Losing a family member is devastating under any circumstance, but when that loss results from someone else’s negligence, the grief is compounded by questions about what happens next and who is responsible. Compensation for wrongful death cases exists for this situation: to hold negligent parties accountable and to provide surviving family members with a measure of financial stability after an unthinkable loss.
At Goldblatt + Singer, we guide families across St. Louis through every step of this process, from understanding what a claim involves to pursuing the recovery the law allows.
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of surviving family members when a person dies because of another party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct. Unlike a criminal prosecution, a wrongful death case does not seek to punish the defendant with imprisonment. Its purpose is financial: to compensate the people who suffered the most from the loss.
Under Missouri Revised Statute § 537.080, any party who would have been liable to the deceased person for personal injury is equally liable for damages following that person’s death. That obligation does not disappear because the victim did not survive. This principle sits at the foundation of every wrongful death case our attorneys can handle in St. Louis.
Filing a wrongful death case in Missouri requires satisfying four legal elements. Each one must be supported by evidence before a claim can succeed.
The defendant owed the deceased a legal duty of care. A driver owes a duty to other motorists. A property owner owes a duty to lawful visitors. A manufacturer owes a duty to the people who use its products.
The defendant violated that duty through negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct. Running a red light, maintaining a hazardous property, or selling a defective product are all examples of breach.
The breach directly caused the death. Missouri courts require a clear connection between the defendant’s conduct and the fatal outcome, not simply because the death occurred around the same time.
The surviving family members suffered measurable losses as a result of the death. The scope of what Missouri law allows families to recover is broader than most people expect.
Missouri also imposes a statute of limitations on wrongful death claims. Families generally have three years from the date of death to file a lawsuit. Missing that window typically bars the claim entirely, which is one reason reaching out to a wrongful death attorney early matters.
No single figure applies across wrongful death cases. Settlements and verdicts span an enormous range, from modest five-figure recoveries to multi-million dollar judgments, depending on the circumstances of the death, the financial profile of the survivors, and the strength of the liability case.
A 29-year-old worker with a wife and three children will present a very different financial picture than a retired individual with no dependents. Our attorneys have secured results ranging from $4.8 million in a trucking wrongful death case to $7.5 million following a carbon monoxide death in a Missouri airplane hangar. What compensation for wrongful death ultimately looks like depends on the facts unique to each family’s situation.
These examples reflect some of our past cases. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, as every case depends on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law.
Several variables shape the value of a wrongful death claim. Missouri attorneys and insurance adjusters can consider all of the following:
Missouri Revised Statute § 537.090 gives the trier of fact broad authority to award damages that are “fair and just” for the death and losses sustained. The categories of recoverable compensation can include:
Missouri law does not cap these damages in most wrongful death cases. The compensation for wrongful death available under Missouri law is broad by design, giving families the opportunity to present the full scope of their losses to the jury.
Missouri law establishes a specific order of priority for who may bring a wrongful death claim. Not every relative qualifies, and the eligibility rules matter:
Under the law, only one wrongful death action may be brought for any given death, and all eligible survivors generally must be included in that single proceeding. If multiple family members disagree about how to proceed, or if there is a dispute over who qualifies, a wrongful death attorney can guide the family through the process before those tensions complicate the legal claim.
Families who have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence deserve answers and a clear path forward. Our team at Goldblatt + Singer can help pursue the compensation for wrongful death your family deserves. Do not wait to get the help you need.
Contact us today at (314) 231-4100 for a free case evaluation. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
Jeff Singer, Managing Partner at Goldblatt + Singer for over a decade, is a seasoned personal injury attorney known for his compassionate yet tough advocacy. He has resolved hundreds of cases and recovered millions for clients. Recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer and Top 100 National Trial Lawyer, Jeff also serves on the Missouri Bar’s Chief Disciplinary Committee and the Board of Governors for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
This page has been created, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our thorough editorial guidelines. It was approved by our Founding Partner, Jeffrey Singer, who has over 30 years of experience as a personal injury attorney.
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