Wrongful Death Damages Caps by State
Statutory cap on non-economic or total wrongful death damages, exceptions (medical malpractice only or all cases), and the controlling statute.
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| Damages Cap | Scope | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| No cap | Punitive only | §6-5-410 |
| No cap | N/A | AS 09.55.580 |
| No cap | Const. forbids | §12-611 |
| No cap | Const. forbids | §16-62-102 |
| $390K non-econ | Med. mal. | MICRA §3333.2 |
| $598K non-econ | Inflation adj. | §13-21-203 |
| No cap | N/A | §52-555 |
| No cap | N/A | §3724 |
| $500K-$1M | Med. mal. only | §768.21 |
| No cap | Const. struck '10 | §51-4-2 |
| No cap | N/A | §663-3 |
| $400K | Adjusted yearly | §6-1603 |
| No cap | Const. struck '10 | 740 ILCS 180 |
| $1.65M med-mal | Med. mal. | §34-23-1 |
| No cap | N/A | §633.336 |
| $250K non-econ | All cases | §60-19a02 |
| No cap | Const. forbids | §411.130 |
| $500K med-mal | Med. mal. | §40:1231.2 |
| $750K non-econ | Conscious pain | 18-C §2-807 |
| ~$905K | Inflation adj. | §3-2A-09 |
| No cap | N/A | c.229 §2 |
| ~$500K-$1M | Med. mal. | §600.1483 |
| No cap | N/A | §573.02 |
| $1M non-econ | Med. mal. | §11-1-60 |
| ~$443K | Med. mal. | §538.210 |
| No cap | N/A | §27-1-323 |
| $2.25M med-mal | Med. mal. | §44-2825 |
| $430K med-mal | Med. mal. | §41A.035 |
| No cap | Const. struck | §556:12 |
| No cap | N/A | §2A:31-1 |
| $800K med-mal | Med. mal. | §41-5-6 |
| No cap | N/A | EPTL §5-4.3 |
| $500K med-mal | Med. mal. | §90-21.19 |
| $500K med-mal | Med. mal. | §32-42-02 |
| $250K/$500K | All cases | §2315.18 |
| $350K non-econ | All cases | §23-61.2 |
| $500K med-mal | Med. mal. | §31.710 |
| No cap | Const. forbids | §8301 |
| No cap | N/A | §10-7-1 |
| $350K-$1.05M | Med. mal. | §15-32-220 |
| $500K med-mal | Med. mal. | §21-3-11 |
| $750K-$1M | All cases | §29-39-102 |
| $250K med-mal | Med. mal. | §74.301 |
| $450K med-mal | Med. mal. | §78B-3-410 |
| No cap | N/A | 14 VSA §1492 |
| ~$2.55M med-mal | Med. mal. | §8.01-581.15 |
| No cap | Struck 1989 | §4.20.010 |
| $500K med-mal | Med. mal. | §55-7B-8 |
| $750K non-econ | All cases | §895.04 |
| No cap | Const. forbids | §1-38-101 |
| No cap | N/A | §16-2701 |
Wrongful death damages caps have been struck as unconstitutional in Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, Oregon (partially), Washington (1989), and Florida (2017, medical malpractice). Many caps apply only to non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of consortium) and not to economic damages or punitive damages. The federal Federal Tort Claims Act (28 USC §2674) borrows state law for wrongful death actions against the United States.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.