A wrongful death tort is a claim based on death of a person for the benefit of certain family members. In the case of a wrongful death, the person's death is caused by the negligent acts of another. A wrongful death tort may be filed by a deceased person's personal representative, and any proceeds from the claim would be for the benefit of the decease person's beneficiaries, such as a surviving spouse, children, parent, etc. This tort has been created by statute in most states, as the common law does not typically provide for death as the basis for a claim for injuries in civil court. Most states' wrongful death statutes provide for the payment of compensatory damages, although some states may also measure damages in terms of culpability.