Although wrongful death and homicide may seem like the same thing in the eyes of most people, they are actually very different. While both center around the death of an individual, wrongful death is a civil case, whereas homicide is a criminal matter.
When it comes to homicide, the state, not the victim's family, will try to prove that an individual is guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt and place them on trial in front of a jury to potentially face extreme penalties for their actions. In a wrongful death claim, a lawsuit is filed by the victim's family, although the defendant is not faced with legal punishment, even if it is proven that they are liable for the individual's death. Instead of legal ramifications, the defendant is then charged to pay the victim's family compensation for the death.