While no amount of money can truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, wrongful death settlements provide crucial financial support to families dealing with both economic hardships and emotional suffering. There's no fixed value for these cases, as each situation is unique.

California law divides damages into two main categories:

Economic Damages

These are quantifiable financial losses, including:

• Funeral and burial expenses (averaging $7,000-$12,000 in California)

• Medical costs incurred before death

• Loss of the deceased's income and future earnings potential

• Loss of benefits (pension, health insurance, etc.)

• Loss of household services the deceased would have provided

Non-Economic Damages

These address the intangible but very real losses suffered:

• Loss of love, companionship, comfort, and guidance

• Loss of consortium (for surviving spouses/partners)

• Loss of training and nurturing (for children)

• Emotional distress and mental suffering

Unlike some states, California does not impose caps on compensatory damages in most wrongful death cases, with the exception of medical malpractice cases, which are limited to $250,000 for non-economic damages under MICRA (Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act).