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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66764</law_id><section_number>8.01-52</section_number><catch_line>Amount of damages</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-417</reference><reference>8.01-417.01</reference><reference>8.01-53</reference><reference>8.01-55</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Death by Wrongful Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">jury</span> or the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, as the case may be, in any such <span class="dictionary">action</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Action for death by wrongful act; how and when to be brought" href="/8.01-50/">8.01-50</a> may award such <span class="dictionary">damages</span> as to it may seem fair and just. The <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> or <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> trying the case without a <span class="dictionary">jury</span> shall include, but may not be limited to, <span class="dictionary">damages</span> for the following:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Sorrow, mental anguish, and solace which may include society, companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices and advice of the decedent; <a id="paragraph-242153" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-52/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Compensation for reasonably expected loss of (i) income of the decedent and (ii) services, protection, care and assistance provided by the decedent; <a id="paragraph-242154" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-52/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Expenses for the care, treatment and hospitalization of the decedent incident to the injury resulting in death; <a id="paragraph-242155" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-52/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Reasonable funeral expenses; and <a id="paragraph-242156" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-52/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Punitive <span class="dictionary">damages</span> may be recovered for willful or wanton conduct, or such <span class="dictionary">recklessness</span> as evinces a conscious disregard for the safety of others.
			<span class="dictionary">Damages</span> recoverable under 3, 4 and 5 above shall be specifically stated by the <span class="dictionary">jury</span> or the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, as the case may be. <span class="dictionary">Damages</span> recoverable under 3 and 4 above shall be apportioned among the <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> who rendered such services, as their respective interests may appear. Competent expert <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in proving <span class="dictionary">damages</span> recoverable under 2 above.
			The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall apportion the costs of the <span class="dictionary">action</span> as it shall deem proper. <a id="paragraph-242157" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-52/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-636.1; 1974, c. 444; 1977, cc. 460, 617; 1982, c. 441.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
