Not all wrongful fatalities are accidents. Other incidents are intentional or criminal. Burglaries that cause loss of life or street fights that turn fatal are classic examples of wrongful incidents. In such cases, you may be entitled to compensation even if the defendant was found not guilty in criminal court. The Brown and Goldman families of the OJ Simpson murder case, for example, famously sued Simpson successfully after he was released from murder charges.
Criminal and civil fatality cases can result in different outcomes for the victims' families because the standard of evidence is lower for civil cases. Where a criminal trial demands the prosecution present proof "beyond a reasonable doubt," civil cases require only a "preponderance of evidence." To meet a preponderance standard, a family only needs to show that there is a higher than 50% chance that the claim is true.