When a person dies through the fault or negligence of someone else — a car accident, a medical error, a workplace accident, a defective product — the family may be entitled to compensation for wrongful death. But how much is such a claim worth? There is no list price: the value depends mainly on the economic loss suffered by the family and on the non-economic damages such as the loss of affection and companionship. The wrongful death calculator gives you an indicative estimate, summing the loss of future income, the final expenses and a component for non-economic damages, so you can get a sense of the order of magnitude before speaking with a lawyer.

What a wrongful death claim is

A wrongful death claim is a legal action through which the family members (or those entitled) of a person who died due to the fault, negligence or intent of a third party seek compensation for the economic and moral consequences of the loss. It is distinct from a personal injury lawsuit: here the victim has died, and it is the survivors who assert the right. Typical causes include car accidents, medical errors, workplace accidents, defective products, intentional acts. The purpose of the compensation is to compensate the family for what it has lost: the economic support the person would have provided, the services and care they offered, and the intangible value of their presence. The precise rules — who can act, which damages are recognized, any caps — vary enormously by jurisdiction. The calculator works on the basic economic logic, common to many systems.

How the calculation works: economic and non-economic damages

The value of a wrongful death claim consists of two large categories. The economic damages: the losses quantifiable in money, such as the future income the person would have brought to the family, benefits and pensions, the value of household and care services, and final expenses (funeral, medical expenses of the last period). The non-economic damages: the intangible losses, such as the loss of affection, companionship, guidance and moral support, and the grief of the family members. The latter are by nature hard to quantify and are often estimated as a multiple of the economic loss or assessed case by case. The calculator sums an estimate of the economic damages (net income loss plus final expenses) and an estimate of the non-economic damages (income loss times a multiplier), for an indicative total value.

The loss of future income

The core of the economic damages is the loss of future income: the money the deceased would have earned and brought to the family over the rest of their working life. It is estimated by multiplying the annual income by the number of remaining working years (how many years they would still have worked until retirement). A 40-year-old with 50,000 of income and 25 years of work ahead would have brought 1,250,000 gross. This is the base to start from. In legal practice, this figure is then refined considering expected income growth, inflation and discounting (the value today of future sums), but the calculator uses the simple gross estimate as a starting point, more immediate to understand. The higher the income and the longer the remaining working life, the greater this component — the main one in almost all cases.

Personal consumption: why it is subtracted

Not all of the deceased's income would have gone to the family: a part they would have spent on themselves (food, clothing, personal leisure). In calculating the loss for the survivors, the share of personal consumption is therefore subtracted, because the compensation makes up for what the family lost, not the person's entire income. If it is estimated that 30% of the income would have been consumed by the person themselves, the net loss for the family is 70% of the future income. On 1,250,000 gross, the net loss is 875,000. The personal consumption percentage varies with the family composition: it is lower (less consumption for oneself, more for the family) for those with many dependents, higher for those who live alone. The calculator lets you set this percentage to adapt the estimate to the real situation.

The full economic damages

The economic damages in the calculator are the net income loss plus the final expenses: the funeral costs and any medical expenses incurred before death. In practice, the real economic damages may also include other items — the loss of pension and insurance benefits, the economic value of the services the person provided (childcare, household work, care), and the loss of expected inheritance. The calculator focuses on the two main and easiest-to-estimate components (net income lost and final expenses), leaving out the more specific items that require a professional assessment. Consider the result therefore as a base estimate of the economic damages, which in reality tends to be enriched by a forensic economist or a specialized lawyer with the additional items relevant to the case.

Estimated value by income and working years

Here is how the total estimated value grows (with 30% consumption, 15,000 final expenses, 1.5 non-economic multiplier) as the annual income and remaining working years vary:

Income and remaining years multiply: a young person with a high income generates the highest estimate, because they would have supported the family longer and with larger amounts.

The non-economic damages

The non-economic damages compensate for the losses that have no market price but are real and deep: the loss of affection, of companionship, of moral and educational guidance, of emotional support, and the grief and suffering of the family members. They are often the most delicate and controversial part of a wrongful death claim, because there is no objective way to put a value on a human bond. Legal systems address them in different ways: some estimate them as a multiple of the economic damages, others assess them case by case based on the circumstances (age of the victim, relationship with the survivors, number of family members), others still set caps. The calculator uses the multiplier approach, the simplest to apply to an estimate: it multiplies the net income loss by a factor that represents the weight of the non-economic damages relative to the economic ones.

The non-economic damages multiplier

The multiplier is the lever that translates the intangible losses into a figure. A multiplier of 1 means the non-economic damages are estimated equal to the net income loss; a multiplier of 2 estimates them at double; one of 0.5 at half. The choice of the multiplier reflects the severity and circumstances: cases with young victims, many dependents, or particular suffering tend to higher multipliers; cases with weaker bonds or victims without close family to lower ones. There is no universally "right" value: in practice the multiplier emerges from the negotiation, local case law and the strength of the evidence. The calculator lets you set it to explore different scenarios — try low and high values to see how much the overall estimate changes, remembering that this is the most uncertain and discretionary component.

Estimated value as the multiplier changes

Here is how the total estimated value changes for an income of 50,000, 25 remaining years, 30% consumption and 15,000 final expenses, as the non-economic multiplier varies:

The multiplier weighs heavily on the total: it is the most discretionary variable and the one the parties often disagree on. This is why the same economic loss can lead to very different awards.

Who can file the claim

Who has the right to act for a wrongful death varies by jurisdiction, but generally it is the closest family members: spouse or partner, children, parents, and in some cases other dependents or the administrator of the estate acting on behalf of those entitled. Some systems set an order of priority (first spouse and children, then parents, etc.), others allow multiple categories to act together. The rules also determine how any compensation is divided among the family members. Since these rules are very specific and vary by country and sometimes by region, it is essential to verify who has standing to act in your jurisdiction before starting any action. The calculator estimates the overall value of the damage, not its distribution nor who is entitled to it, which are strictly legal matters.

The role of expert witnesses

In practice, the quantification of damages in a wrongful death case often relies on expert witnesses. A forensic economist precisely calculates the loss of future income, taking into account expected salary growth, inflation, discounting (the value today of future sums), the statistical working life and the value of the unpaid services the person provided. Other experts can document the circumstances and the impact on the family members to support the non-economic damages. These analyses make the estimate much more solid and defensible in negotiation or trial than a simple calculation. The calculator gives you an immediate order of magnitude, useful to orient yourself; but for a real claim, the work of a forensic economist and a specialized lawyer can significantly change — often upward — the figures at stake.

Caps and jurisdiction differences

The real value of a wrongful death claim depends decisively on the jurisdiction. Some systems set caps on non-economic damages or on certain categories of compensation; others do not. The rules on which damages are recognized, on how the income loss is calculated, on the admissibility of punitive damages (available in some systems, absent in others) and on the limitation periods vary enormously from country to country and, in federal systems, from region to region. The practice of courts and insurers also heavily influences the actual figures. This is why an estimate like the calculator's must always be placed in the specific legal context: the same loss can translate into a very different award depending on where and how you act. Always consult a lawyer who knows the rules applicable to your case.

The components of the compensation

Here is an outline of the main components that contribute to the value of a wrongful death claim:

The calculator estimates the first two economic items and the non-economic component via the multiplier; the more specific items (services, benefits) require a dedicated appraisal.

Why it is only an estimate

It is essential to understand the limits of any automatic calculation on such a delicate subject. The result is an informational estimate, not a prediction of the real compensation. It deliberately simplifies: it uses the gross income loss without discounting, a single multiplier for the non-economic damages, and does not consider the specific items (benefits, services, punitive damages) nor the jurisdiction caps. The actual value depends on the evidence, the quality of the expert witnesses, the applicable law, the economic capacity of the liable party and their insurer, and the outcome of the negotiation or trial. Two cases with the same starting numbers can have very different outcomes. Use the calculator to get a sense of the order of magnitude and to understand which factors weigh most, but always rely on a specialized lawyer for a real assessment of your case.

How the calculator works

Enter the annual income of the deceased, the remaining working years (how many years they would still have worked), the personal consumption percentage (the share of income they would have spent on themselves), the final expenses (funeral and medical costs) and the multiplier for the non-economic damages. The calculator returns the total estimated value, the economic damages, the net income loss and the non-economic damages, with an assessment of the order of magnitude. Try different values, especially for the multiplier and personal consumption, to see how the estimate changes. It is a way to orient yourself on the size of a claim, not a substitute for legal advice.

The data you need

You need five data. The annual income of the deceased. The remaining working years they would have had ahead until retirement. The personal consumption percentage (how much of the income they would have spent on themselves rather than on the family). The final expenses incurred. The multiplier of the non-economic damages, which reflects the weight of the intangible loss. The result is an estimate of the overall value of the claim, split between economic and non-economic damages. Remember it is an indicative and simplified estimate: the rules, caps, admissible items and practice vary by jurisdiction, and the real value must be determined with a specialized lawyer and, if necessary, a forensic economist.

A worked example

Imagine a 40-year-old with a 50,000 income and 25 years of work ahead, a personal consumption of 30%, 15,000 in final expenses and a non-economic multiplier of 1.5. The gross income loss is 50,000 × 25 = 1,250,000; net of personal consumption (70%) it becomes 875,000. The economic damages are 875,000 + 15,000 = 890,000. The non-economic damages are 875,000 × 1.5 = 1,312,500. The total estimated value is 2,202,500. Try lowering the multiplier to 0.5: the total drops to about 1,327,500. Or reduce the remaining years to 10: it falls to about 715,000. It is the way to understand which factors weigh most on the estimate.

Frequently asked questions

What is a wrongful death claim?

It is a legal action through which the family members of a person who died due to the fault, negligence or intent of a third party seek compensation. It is distinct from a personal injury lawsuit (here the victim has died and the survivors act). Typical causes: car accidents, medical errors, workplace accidents, defective products.

How is the value of the compensation calculated?

By summing economic and non-economic damages. Economic = net income loss (income × remaining years, minus personal consumption) + final expenses. Non-economic = net income loss × a multiplier. Example: income 50,000, 25 years, consumption 30%, expenses 15,000, multiplier 1.5 → economic 890,000, non-economic 1,312,500, total 2,202,500.

What is the loss of future income?

It is the money the person would have earned and brought to the family over the rest of their working life: annual income × remaining working years. It is the main economic component. In practice it is refined with salary growth, inflation and discounting; the calculator uses the simple gross estimate as a base.

Why is personal consumption subtracted?

Because a part of the income the person would have spent on themselves, not on the family. The compensation makes up for what the family lost, so the personal consumption share is subtracted. With a 30% consumption, the net loss for the family is 70% of the future income. The percentage is lower with more dependents.

What are non-economic damages?

They are the intangible losses: loss of affection, companionship, moral guidance, emotional support, and the grief of the family members. They have no market price and are the hardest and most controversial part. The calculator estimates them as a multiplier of the net income loss, the simplest approach.

What multiplier should I use?

It depends on the severity and circumstances. A multiplier of 1 estimates non-economic damages equal to the net income loss, 2 at double, 0.5 at half. Young victims, many dependents or great suffering lead to higher values. There is no "right" value: it emerges from the negotiation and local case law.

Who can file the claim?

It varies by jurisdiction, but usually the closest family members: spouse or partner, children, parents, sometimes other dependents or the administrator of the estate. Some systems set an order of priority. The rules also determine how the compensation is divided. Check who has standing to act in your jurisdiction.

Are expert witnesses needed?

In practice yes. A forensic economist precisely calculates the income loss (salary growth, inflation, discounting, statistical working life, value of unpaid services). Other experts document the impact on the family for the non-economic damages. They make the estimate much more solid, often upward versus a simple calculation.

Are there caps on the compensation?

It depends on the jurisdiction. Some systems set caps on non-economic damages or certain categories; others do not. The admissibility of punitive damages and the limitation periods also vary. The real value depends heavily on where and how you act, as well as on the evidence and the practice of courts and insurers.

Does the estimate include punitive damages?

No. The calculator estimates economic and non-economic (compensatory) damages, not punitive damages, which are available only in some legal systems and for particularly serious conduct. Where allowed, they can greatly increase the total. Check with a lawyer whether they apply to your case.

Why is the result only an estimate?

Because it deliberately simplifies: it uses the gross income loss without discounting, a single multiplier, and does not consider specific items (benefits, services, punitive damages) nor jurisdiction caps. The real value depends on evidence, expert witnesses, applicable law, the liable party capacity and negotiation. It is informational, not a prediction.

What data do I need?

Five: the person annual income, the remaining working years, the personal consumption percentage, the final expenses and the non-economic damages multiplier. The result is the total estimated value, split between economic and non-economic damages, plus the net income loss.

Does the calculator replace a lawyer?

No, absolutely not. It is an informational tool to get a sense of the order of magnitude and understand which factors weigh. A real claim requires a lawyer specialized in civil liability and, often, a forensic economist, who assess the evidence, applicable law and all the damage items. Always consult a professional.

Updated July 2026