A wrongful death claim exists when a person dies due to the legal fault of another person. When a wrongful death occurs as an intentional act by another (such as homicide, murder, manslaughter) or as a result of a criminal act (burglary, DUI) the case is usually handled as a criminal matter.
The process of compensating surviving family members for their losses is initiated when family members of deceased individuals bring a suit against individuals or companies who they feel have been responsible, through negligent acts, for the unnecessary death of their loved one.