What Is Loss of Guidance in a Wrongful Death Claim?
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences any family can face. When the loss is caused by someone else’s negligence, families may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim in Kansas. These claims allow surviving relatives to seek compensation for both financial and emotional losses. One of the most significant, yet often misunderstood, damages is loss of guidance. That’s why the compassionate Kansas wrongful death lawyers at Patterson Legal Group are here with the information you need on loss of guidance in a wrongful death claim.
Understanding Wrongful Death in Kansas
A wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. Common causes include:
- Car and truck accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Defective or dangerous products
- Dangerous premises
Kansas law allows certain family members—such as spouses, children, or parents—to file a claim seeking damages for the impact of their loved one’s death.
What Does “Loss of Guidance” Mean?
Loss of guidance refers to the emotional and developmental support that a loved one, especially a parent, would have provided if they had lived. This type of damage focuses on the intangible role the deceased played in shaping, mentoring, and guiding their children or dependents.
Examples of guidance include:
- Helping children make important life decisions
- Providing advice, encouragement, and moral support
- Teaching life skills, values, and family traditions
- Being present for milestones like graduations, weddings, and careers
When a child loses a parent, the absence of this guidance can have lifelong consequences—both emotionally and practically.
Why This Matters in a Wrongful Death Claim
While financial damages like lost income or medical bills are easier to calculate, loss of guidance acknowledges the deeper, human impact of losing a loved one. It recognizes that:
- Children need more than financial support–they need a parent’s wisdom and care.
- The emotional void left by a parent or guardian affects a child’s development.
- Families deserve compensation for the irreplaceable support their loved one would have provided.
Courts and juries often view this as a powerful and compelling element of wrongful death damages.
How Loss of Guidance Is Proven
Unlike medical bills or pay stubs, loss of guidance does not come with clear numbers. Instead, it must be demonstrated through evidence and testimony. Common ways to prove loss of guidance include:
- Testimony from family and friends about the deceased’s role in their children’s lives
- School or activity records showing involvement in education, sports, or mentoring
- Psychological evaluations of the child’s emotional and developmental needs
- Expert testimony on the long-term impact of losing parental guidance
The goal is to show the court the depth of the loss and how it will affect the child or dependent over time.
Who Can Recover for This in Kansas?
In Kansas wrongful death cases, certain family members may recover for loss of guidance, including:
- Minor children who depended on a parent’s support and advice
- Adult children, particularly if the parent played an active mentoring role
- Other dependents who relied on the deceased for guidance and support
Each case is unique, and recovery will depend on the family’s circumstances and relationship to the deceased.
Patterson Legal Group: Here to Help with Loss of Guidance in a Wrongful Death Claim
Here at Patterson Legal Group, we’re here to give you the information you need on loss of guidance in a wrongful death claim. We’re also here for you if your family is facing this difficult situation. Our dedicated team of litigators and trial lawyers has a proven track record of success in securing settlements for those in Kansas, as well as in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. We will fight for you every step of the way.
Get started today with a free consultation by calling us at 888-687-2400 or going online through our secure contact form. You can also connect with our LiveChat representatives. We work under a “No Win, No Fee” promise, so you won’t pay anything unless we win. Reach out today and take the first step towards the money you deserve.
