wrongful death
[RAWNG-fuhl deth]
nounpl: wrongful deaths
morte ilícita
1. A legal claim arising from a death caused by the negligent or intentional act of another person, allowing surviving family members to seek damages
The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the negligent driver caused the accident that killed their father.
A família entrou com uma ação de morte ilícita após o motorista negligente causar o acidente que matou seu pai.
2. A civil action in tort law where plaintiffs seek compensation for losses resulting from someone's death due to another's wrongful conduct
The wrongful death claim included damages for lost wages and emotional suffering.
A ação de morte ilícita incluía indenizações por salários perdidos e sofrimento emocional.
Wrongful death is a fundamental concept in American common law tort system, allowing families to recover damages. In Brazil and Portugal, similar protections exist under civil law codes, though the mechanisms and terminology differ. In the USA, wrongful death lawsuits are extremely common in personal injury cases involving medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, and product liability. Each state has specific wrongful death statutes defining who can sue and what damages are recoverable.
Related Idioms & Phrases
file a wrongful death lawsuit
bring a wrongful death claim
wrongful death damages
wrongful death settlement
survive a wrongful death action
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →