Funeral expenses
Costs associated with final arrangements, burial or cremation.
Serious Injury & Wrongful Death
Kansas City Wrongful Death Lawyer
When a family loses someone because of another party’s alleged negligence, the legal questions that follow are sensitive and complex. This page offers general, respectful information about wrongful death claims — it is not legal advice and does not suggest that every accidental death creates a valid claim.
The short answer
What is a wrongful death claim?
A wrongful death claim is a civil claim that may be available when a death is alleged to have been caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another party. It is separate from any criminal proceeding and does not require a criminal charge. Whether a particular death supports a claim depends on the facts and applicable Missouri law — not every accidental death gives rise to a valid wrongful death claim.
Related accident types: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents.
Circumstances that may be involved
A range of negligence-related events.
A wrongful death claim may arise from many circumstances. The examples below are general and do not imply that a death in any of these settings automatically creates a valid claim.
Motor vehicle collisions
A fatal car, motorcycle or pedestrian collision on a Kansas City roadway where another driver’s negligence may have contributed.
Commercial truck accidents
A deadly crash involving a tractor-trailer or commercial vehicle on I-70, I-435 or another metro corridor.
Dangerous property conditions
A fatal incident on property that was allegedly maintained in an unsafe condition.
Work-related third-party incidents
A death on a job site caused by the conduct of a party other than the employer, where a third-party claim may be distinct from workers’ compensation.
Other negligence-related events
Other circumstances in which a death is alleged to have resulted from another party’s careless or wrongful conduct.
Wrongful death consequences
The losses a family may face.
Beyond the personal loss, a death caused by alleged negligence may create financial consequences for surviving family members. The categories below are general; the damages actually available depend on the facts and applicable Missouri law, and this page makes no definitive statement about Missouri damages beyond what is generally described.
Medical expenses before death
Treatment costs incurred between the injury and the date of death.
Lost financial support
The income the deceased would likely have contributed to the household.
Loss of services
Household and family services the deceased previously provided.
Loss of companionship
The loss of guidance, counsel and consortium recognized in many jurisdictions.
Other potentially recognized damages
Additional categories that may be recognized under applicable Missouri law, depending on the facts.
Investigating what happened
Evidence that may matter.
Understanding how a death occurred often depends on evidence gathered in the days and weeks that follow. Depending on the circumstances, the following sources may be relevant. This discussion is factual and not intended to sensationalize a loss.
Police reports
Witness statements
Photographs
Video footage
Vehicle data
Medical records
Commercial records
Electronic information
Expert analysis
Physical evidence
“A wrongful death claim is, at its core, a civil mechanism for asking who was responsible and what the loss means for the people left behind.”
Serious cases can require specialized analysis
Wrongful death claims may draw on qualified professionals.
Depending on the circumstances, a wrongful death claim may involve professionals such as medical specialists, accident reconstruction professionals, economists, vocational experts and other qualified experts. Because Demo, Stration & Sample is a fictional firm, this page does not state that the firm employs or regularly retains any specific expert.
Frequently asked questions
Wrongful death questions, answered respectfully.
General information only, not legal advice for any particular situation.
Keep exploring
Related accident & injury resources.
Resource library
The Injury Claim Process
The stages a serious claim may move through, from intake to resolution.
What a Claim May Include
Potential categories of damages in serious injury and death claims.
Insurance Communication
Why statements to insurers can affect valuation.
Frequently Asked Questions
General questions about injury claims, answered directly.
Free case review
A respectful conversation about what happened.
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- Phone
- 816-555-0100
- Office
- 1100 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64105
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