Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can go through. When that loss comes suddenly and wrongfully due to the negligence or misconduct of another, the grief and upheaval is exponentially compounded. Washington residents who lose their husband or wife because of a wrongful death face significant emotional, logistical, and financial challenges. This article provides an overview of what to expect and how to cope.
The Devastation of an Unexpected Loss
The death of a spouse under normal circumstances allows some time for preparation, discussion, and closure. A wrongful death robs both spouses of that opportunity. Instead, the surviving spouse must try to process the shock and traumatic grief of an abrupt loss. The spouse may be angry at the injustice and desperate to understand how this could happen. Guilt, regret, and ‘what-ifs’ often haunt the bereaved.
At the same time, the surviving spouse must handle the immediate logistics, such as planning a funeral, notifying relatives, and answering well-meaning queries from friends. Taking time to fully grieve may seem impossible under the crushing weight of sudden responsibility. This delay often exacerbates the grieving process later.
The surviving spouse may replay the circumstances over and over in their mind, wondering if the accident could have somehow been avoided or if they could have done something differently. They may fixate on the spouse’s final moments and suffer traumatic thoughts or dreams. Intense emotions like despair, confusion, fear, anxiety, anger, and loneliness can arise unpredictably.
Financial Impacts and Hard Choices
Along with the emotional trauma, wrongful death also creates significant financial stressors. The deceased spouse’s income and benefits are abruptly gone, which could mean an inability to pay the mortgage, bills, and other expenses. The surviving spouse must assess assets, access accounts, and try to stabilize household finances in the midst of grief.
If the deceased spouse handled the couple’s finances, the survivor may realize they lack important information on accounts, investments, insurance policies, and more. Reconstructing this financial landscape compounds the challenges. They may need to locate or request copies of bank statements, tax returns, titles, policies, and other documentation to get clarity.
Painful financial decisions arise, like whether to sell the family home, liquidate investments, or make other major changes to pay ongoing costs. Budgeting carefully and prioritizing essential expenditures are critical. Costs like healthcare, childcare, transportation, and groceries may need to be reduced. Drawing on savings to bridge the gap can help temporarily but may not be a long-term solution.
The spouse has to handle issues like closing credit card accounts, redirecting mail, and stopping automatic payments or deposits. Changing account beneficiaries, updating insurance policies, closing email accounts, and other administrative tasks add up. Reworking the family budget and having to cut back financially can be distressing.
Legal Action as Emotional and Financial Recourse
Because wrongful death is by definition the result of negligence or misconduct, the surviving spouse has legal rights to take action and seek damages. A wrongful death lawsuit or settlement can address two important needs: emotional closure and financial support.
The legal discovery process allows the grieving spouse to better understand what happened. Documents, evidence, and testimony help reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the death. Establishing these facts provides some answers to troubling questions surrounding the loss.
Successful legal action validates that a terrible, and preventable, injustice occurred. It places responsibility where deserved. Seeing negligent parties held accountable can lessen misplaced guilt and regret survivors often feel. The closure of a case and compensation from those at fault brings a measure of justice.
In addition, legal action allows the spouse to regain financial stability from lost income. Damages can pay for funeral costs, existing and future medical bills, household expenses, lost benefits and wages, and more. While money can never replace a lost loved one, it can prevent additional hardship like foreclosure, bankruptcy, and struggles to pay for food or utilities. Financial compensation provides options to cover costs of living while grieving.
Coping with Grief While Pursuing Justice
Navigating acute grief while also handling legal action is extraordinarily difficult. The surviving spouse needs strong support from friends, relatives, grief counselors, clergy, and others. Trying to return to daily routines establishes some normalcy. Support groups connect people experiencing similar losses. A compassionate and competent personal injury attorney can advise on the process.
The litigation process itself often adds stress. The spouse must retell the story, provide documentation, and relive the tragedy repeatedly. Depositions require describing painful details. Hearing accounts from other parties can be difficult. A non-judgmental and compassionate attorney can guide the spouse through the complex legal system, reduce frustrations, and help them prioritize self-care during this challenging time.
The spouse should focus on physical and mental health by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Counseling and support groups provide safe spaces to express intense emotions that may arise like guilt, loneliness, anger, fear, and more. The grieving process does not follow a tidy timeline, so being patient and accepting one’s limits is important.
Remembering and Honoring the Deceased Spouse
While legal action addresses wrongdoing, it is also crucial to honor the memory of the deceased spouse. The survivor can plan memorials, share positive stories and photos, and carry on treasured traditions. Creating memory books, photo albums, or commemorative digital spaces allows revisiting happy moments. Supporting other relatives, especially children, also brings comfort.
Continuing shared hobbies, volunteering with groups they cared about, or furthering a cause in their memory keeps their passions alive. Though the loss will always hurt, good memories sustain. With time, the bereaved can move from intense grief to integrating this loss into the fabric of their life. Healing happens gradually by processing the tragedy, expressing emotions, celebrating the spouse’s impact, and developing a new sense of purpose.
Seeking Legal and Emotional Assistance in Washington
No one should face the dual tragedies of wrongful death and financial instability alone. For Washington residents, assistance is available. If you lost a spouse due to another party’s negligence in Washington, contact Monge & Associates for a free consultation by calling (888) 477-0597.
With 32 offices in 19 states, including Washington, Virginia, and Maryland, our attorneys combine legal experience with compassion. We help clients understand their options, navigate complex legal matters, and take steps toward closure and financial stability. Though the process is difficult, you do not have to handle it alone.