Dealing with the loss of a loved one as a result of an accident caused by another person can be devastating, and many families turn to wrongful death claims both as a means of securing the compensation they need to pay for medical and funeral expenses, and as a way to ensure that those responsible for the death are held accountable. However, in order to pursue a wrongful death claim, it is necessary to have had a close relationship, usually as parent, child, or spouse, with the deceased.