Stay-at-home parents are often the glue that holds a family together. Their work makes it possible for the other parent to really develop their career. They play a key role in ensuring the healthy emotional and social development of the children in the family.
Unfortunately, stay-at-home parents sometimes pass away unexpectedly while their children are still young. Their families may be left scrambling to address the major financial and practical challenges generated by their passing.
In cases where negligence or misconduct on the part of a business or another person is to blame for the tragedy, surviving family members may potentially have the option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Stay-at-home parents are valuable
People who sacrifice their careers to care for their families may only earn part-time wages or may have no direct income whatsoever. However, that does not eliminate their economic contributions to the household.
Stay-at-home parents handle logistics and scheduling. They cook, clean, care for children and plan the family’s meals. If the household had to pay a professional to provide those same services, the costs could add up quickly.
Economic experts estimate that a stay-at-home parent contributes an average of $4,500 worth of services to the family every month. In a wrongful death lawsuit, plaintiffs request compensation based on the economic impact of a tragedy. The value of unpaid labor can be a key consideration when the person who died was a stay-at-home parent.
Reviewing a recent tragedy and its practical implications with a skilled legal team can help families explore their options. A wrongful death lawsuit can potentially lead to financial compensation and also a sense of closure after the sudden and preventable loss of a stay-at-home parent.
