What is wrongful death mediation, and what kinds of cases does it involve?

Wrongful death mediation is the process of resolving a claim brought when someone has died as a result of another party’s negligence or wrongful act — for example, a fatal motor vehicle crash, a catastrophic workplace or premises accident, a defective product, or medical negligence. These cases combine the highest financial stakes with profound emotional weight, because the people at the table are grieving family members. Nearly all such cases are resolved before trial, and mediation is the setting where that usually happens. It gives the family and the defendants — typically represented by insurers — a private, controlled forum to reach a resolution without the family having to endure the uncertainty and public exposure of a trial. A mediator experienced in fatal-injury matters understands both the legal framework and the sensitivity these cases demand.