Wrongful Death Lawyer, Expert Witnesses, and Punitive Damages
A wrongful death lawyer can make good use of expert witnesses such as economists and doctors to help calculate the value of the decedent to his or her family, and other financial experts to help determine the future monetary losses the survivors will incur due to the wrongful death of their loved one.
These experts work with the wrongful death lawyer to help juries become knowledgeable about the monetary value of the decedent and to convince them of the amount of financial impact upon the survivors or the estate. In the case of a malicious or deliberate death, punitive damages can also be levied against the defendant. Some awards are very high, for punishment, and to discourage others from doing similar acts.
Your wrongful death lawyer can advise you on the specific laws for using expert witnesses and asking for punitive damages in your state.