The death of a loved one is hard for many people to deal with. When the death was tragic, such as one from a car crash or medical incident, the difficulty might be increased. The people who were close to the person who died will likely need to comforted. There are several ways that people can do this, even those who were also close to the victim.
One important thing to remember is that everyone grieves in a different manner. A person’s spouse might react in a very different manner from their children or their parents. Even if you were the victim’s close family member, you might find that you need to comfort other family members and friends.
It is important that you express sympathies to anyone who is grieving the death. Try not to say things that make it seem like the death isn’t a big deal. Sometimes, people who just lost a loved one won’t want to have serious discussions. They might not feel up to answering a bunch of questions. It is usually best to just pass on your condolences and then let them tell you anything else they have to say.
If you are the immediate family member of the person who died tragically, you might ultimately decide that you are going to file a lawsuit to hold the person responsible for the death accountable. Remember that you don’t have to discuss this with anyone if you aren’t comfortable doing so. During the days after the death, at the funeral and beyond, your focus should be on trying to start the healing process.
Source: The Spruce, “What to Say to Survivors After a Tragic Death,” Debby Mayne, accessed Jan. 5, 2018
