Civil wrongful death lawsuits can result in financial compensation for the surviving immediate family members of the victim. A wrongful death damages award might include final expenses for the victim, such as funeral and medical expenses, as well as the value of lost benefits and/or income for the victim's family, such as loss of future earnings and lost pension benefits. Damages for successful wrongful death claims will vary to some degree according to state law. For example, compensation for the pain and suffering of the surviving family, loss of companionship for a surviving spouse, and punitive damages, may or may not be available, depending on the applicable state's law. Typically, persons entitled to file wrongful death actions are immediate family members. However, some states allow extended family members to file for wrongful death in certain situations, as well. However, as a general rule, a family member is not entitled to bring a wrongful death claim against another family member.