Recovering After the Wrongful Death of a Loved One

When a loved one dies unexpectedly in a car accident, from violence, or due to medical malpractice, the sudden loss can cause shock, grief, and emotional upheaval. On top of all this, losing your family’s primary income earner or child care provider can disrupt your finances and lifestyle.

Recovering after the wrongful death of a family member requires many steps, from processing your grief to seeking compensation for your loss. Use this guide to help you heal and move forward in the aftermath of losing a loved one.

Give Yourself Time to Grieve

Expect a wide range of emotions throughout the grieving period. Depression, anger, sadness, and hopelessness are all common and valid. Accept that you may not have the mental capacity to return to your daily routine for a while. Take time off work or school and give yourself permission to grieve.

Seek Emotional Support

No one should grieve alone during such a loss. Instead of isolating yourself, confide in a trusted family member or friend who can provide words of comfort. The goal is not to feel better immediately—it’s to talk through your emotions and navigate the loss toward eventual recovery.

Take Care of Yourself

When fatigue, insomnia, and changes in appetite set in, it’s easy to forget about exercising, eating, and personal hygiene. Still, addressing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs is a vital part of recovering after the wrongful death of a loved one. Try restorative activities like meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, and writing in your journal.

Speak With a Grief Counselor

Surrounding yourself with friends and family can bring comfort, but some aspects of grief and healing are best explored with help from a professional counselor. You may find new perspectives and insight and glean tips to cope with depression, trauma, or the hardships you now face.

Determine What Healing Looks Like for You

Considering the future without your loved one may be easier if you find outlets for meaning and expression. You may need to create a new sense of purpose while honoring your lost family member. Consider things like painting, writing music, volunteering, and traveling to reconnect with your values.

Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer

A wrongful death lawsuit is when a family member of the deceased seeks to recover damages from the responsible party. Wrongful death may be caused by another person’s negligence, intentional malice, or other wrongful acts. Everything from distracted driving to surgical errors to workplace hazards can cause wrongful death. Speak with an attorney about your legal options if you think a wrongful act resulted in your loved one’s death.

To learn more about your right to recover compensation, reach out to Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC. We have over 70 years of experience as a wrongful death attorney in New Jersey, so we’re confident we can help you seek justice. Call us at 862-263-0770 or contact us online to schedule your free, one-hour consultation. A Spanish translator is available upon request.