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Wrongful death compensation calculator

Q: How much is a wrongful death claim worth?

It varies enormously — from the low six figures to many millions — driven by the deceased's age, earnings, dependents and the survivors' losses. Damages cover lost financial support, lost services, funeral costs and, in most states, loss of companionship. The calculator helps estimate the measurable economic losses.

Q: What damages can a family recover in a wrongful death case?

Typically lost financial support and benefits, the value of lost services (childcare, household work), funeral and burial costs, pre-death medical bills, and — in most states — loss of companionship, care and guidance. Some states allow a survival action for the deceased's pre-death suffering, and a few permit punitive damages.

Q: Who can file a wrongful death claim?

It depends on state law, but usually a surviving spouse, children, parents, or the personal representative of the estate. Eligibility and the order of priority differ by state, so confirm standing with a wrongful-death attorney before proceeding.

Q: How is wrongful death compensation calculated?

The economic part projects the financial support the deceased would have provided over their expected working life, less personal consumption, plus services, funeral and medical costs. The non-economic part — loss of companionship — is judged case by case. There is no single formula, and several states cap certain damages.

Q: How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?

Each US state sets its own statute of limitations for wrongful death, commonly two years from the date of death, though some differ and claims against government entities can be much shorter. Deadlines are strict, so seek legal advice promptly.

Estimate what a wrongful-death claim could be worth after a fatal accident or act of negligence — covering financial support, services and the family's loss — using published frameworks and typical US settlement ranges.

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Wrongful Death Compensation Calculator

Estimate your total payout range in under a minute

Main injury type

Wrongful-death claims are valued by the family's losses, not the injury tariff — use the loss fields below.

Severity of injury

MinorRecovers < 1 yr Moderate1–3 yrs / lasting SeverePermanent / major

Choose based on your medical prognosis and how long symptoms last or are expected to last.

Financial losses (special damages) — optional

Money you have lost or will lose because of the accident — lost wages, treatment, out-of-pocket costs. Leave at 0 if unsure.

Lost earnings to date

Medical & care costs

Future losses (earnings/care)

Other out-of-pocket costs

⚠️ Guide estimate — not legal advice

Estimated total payout range

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This is an indicative estimate only. Real awards depend on full medical evidence, who was at fault, and your exact losses. Figures use published injury-bracket ranges and are not a guarantee. Always confirm with a qualified attorney (US) or solicitor (UK).

Last updated 23 June 2026 · By Mustafa Bilgic · Figures reviewed against the Judicial College Guidelines and typical US settlement ranges

How much is a wrongful death claim worth? Wrongful-death damages are different from an injury claim: they compensate the family or estate for their losses — lost financial support and benefits, lost services, funeral and burial costs, and, in most states, the survivors’ loss of companionship and guidance. Values vary enormously with the deceased’s age, earnings and dependents, from the low six figures to many millions. Use the calculator to estimate the measurable losses, then add the non-economic loss with legal advice.

What wrongful death damages cover

A wrongful-death claim arises when someone dies because of another party’s negligence or wrongful act — a fatal crash, a workplace accident, medical negligence or a defective product. Unlike a personal-injury claim, the compensation flows to the surviving family or the estate, and the law of each state defines who may claim and what they may recover.

Economic losses

Lost financial support — the income and benefits the deceased would have provided over their working life.
Lost services — the value of childcare, household work and other contributions.
Funeral and burial costs, and any medical bills incurred before death.

Non-economic losses

Most states also allow damages for the survivors’ loss of companionship, care, guidance and consortium, and for the family’s grief and mental anguish. Some states additionally permit a survival action for the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death. A few cap non-economic or punitive damages.

Who can bring a wrongful-death claim. Eligibility is set by state statute — typically a spouse, children, parents, or the personal representative of the estate. Deadlines (the statute of limitations) are strict and sometimes shorter than for injury claims. An attorney confirms standing and the deadline in your state.

How the figure is built

The economic part is calculated much like a serious-injury loss-of-earnings claim — projecting the support the deceased would have provided, then adjusting for personal consumption. The non-economic part is judged case by case. This calculator estimates the measurable losses you enter; the companionship element should be valued with a wrongful-death attorney.

How to use this wrongful death calculator

For the injury field, choose the harm closest to the fatal injury, then enter the financial losses below — this gives a structured loss estimate.
Add lost financial support, funeral and medical costs, lost services and any future support in the loss fields.
Read the estimated range as a starting point for the economic losses.
Discuss the non-economic and any punitive element with an attorney.

Compensation amounts by injury type

The table below shows indicative injury ranges for reference. For a wrongful-death claim, the real value comes from the family's losses entered in the fields above — lost support, services, funeral and medical costs.

Indicative general-damages ranges by injury and severity. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, other costs) are added on top. Your case may fall outside these ranges.
Injury type	Minor ($)	Moderate ($)	Severe ($)

* UK whiplash minor/moderate up to 2 years is the fixed statutory tariff (£275–£4,830). US figures are typical settlement ranges. All other figures are bracket-style estimates and rounded. Last updated 23 June 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a wrongful death claim worth?

It varies enormously — from the low six figures to many millions — driven by the deceased's age, earnings, dependents and the survivors' losses. Damages cover lost financial support, lost services, funeral costs and, in most states, loss of companionship. The calculator helps estimate the measurable economic losses.

What damages can a family recover in a wrongful death case?

Typically lost financial support and benefits, the value of lost services (childcare, household work), funeral and burial costs, pre-death medical bills, and — in most states — loss of companionship, care and guidance. Some states allow a survival action for the deceased's pre-death suffering, and a few permit punitive damages.

Who can file a wrongful death claim?

It depends on state law, but usually a surviving spouse, children, parents, or the personal representative of the estate. Eligibility and the order of priority differ by state, so confirm standing with a wrongful-death attorney before proceeding.

How is wrongful death compensation calculated?

The economic part projects the financial support the deceased would have provided over their expected working life, less personal consumption, plus services, funeral and medical costs. The non-economic part — loss of companionship — is judged case by case. There is no single formula, and several states cap certain damages.

How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?

Each US state sets its own statute of limitations for wrongful death, commonly two years from the date of death, though some differ and claims against government entities can be much shorter. Deadlines are strict, so seek legal advice promptly.

Estimate only — not legal advice. This is an informational tool, not a law firm, and it does not provide legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Figures are indicative ranges based on published injury brackets and typical settlement data, and may differ from any actual award or settlement. Always confirm with a qualified attorney (US) or solicitor (UK). In the US you can find a licensed attorney through your state bar lawyer-referral service. See our full disclaimer.