Eligible Beneficiaries in a Kentucky Wrongful Death Claim

According to the Kentucky statues, only those surviving relatives listed can receive compensation from damages claimed in a Kentucky wrongful death claim. The majority of the benefits are normally distributed ½ to the surviving spouse and ½ to the deceased's surviving children.

If there are no children the entirety of the benefits are given to the spouse, and if there is no surviving spouse the benefits are divided equally among the children. If the deceased had no spouse or children then the beneficiaries would be the deceased's parents, or when no parents are present, the deceased's brothers and sisters.

If none of the deceased's immediate family is available to be determined as a beneficiary then the estate and damages paid through a wrongful death lawsuit are turned over to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If there is a will present, there may be unique stipulations as to how the assets of the estate are to be handled, such as payment to other non-familial parties or donations to charitable organizations.

For more information on how to file a wrongful death lawsuit following a fatal Louisville truck accident, please visit our article library. There are many things to know about who is eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit and the types of compensation involved. 

If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a truck accident in Kentucky, the attorneys at Gray and White Law are here to help. We have successfully handled many Kentucky truck accident and wrongful death cases. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation of your case - 1-800-634-8767.