In common law countries such as the United States and Canada, pursuing a claim for wrongful death, or a fatality caused by the negligence or otherwise wrongful act of another, was not possible. This was the case because the deceased had no legal rights under the common law. This changed in 1846 as the United Kingdom passed legislation through Parliament that allowed for relatives of the deceased to pursue a claim on their behalf. Naturally, this idea spread throughout the world relatively quickly as countries and states recognized the need for justice and compensation when a life was wrongfully lost.
A Brief History
In common law countries such as the United States and Canada, pursuing a claim for wrongful death, or a fatality caused by the negligence or otherwise wrongful act of another, was not possible. This was the case because the deceased had no legal rights under
