No one wants to think about having to plan a funeral for a loved one, doing so can be extremely difficult. If you do have to plan a funeral, though, expenses are something that will have to be recognized. The cost of a funeral can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. The average adult casketed funeral typically costs just over $7,000.
Surviving family members of someone killed by a defective product – such as the recent Takata recall on airbags in BMW, Chrysler, Ford, etc. vehicles – may be in dire need of wrongful death claim monies as often these types of deaths are not planned. Let’s investigate funeral costs and then consider if a wrongful death attorney can help you get funds to pay down future funeral costs.
Average Cost of an Adult Funeral
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has calculated the average cost of an adult casketed funeral every year since the 1960s. In 1960, the median cost was only $708.
However, that cost quickly skyrocketed. By the year 2000, the median cost for an adult casketed funeral was $5,180, and by 2012, the cost had risen to $7,045. The median cost in 2012 for an adult funeral with a vault was $8,343.
Cost of the Average Funeral Price Breakdown
According to the NFDA, the most expensive part of a funeral is a “nondeclinable [sic] basic services fee.” This fee averaged $1,975 in 2012.
Other costs are broken down as such.
- Transfer of body to funeral home: $285
- Embalming: $695
- Other preparation of the body: $225
- Use of facilities for viewing: $400
- Use of facilities for funeral services: $495
- Hearse: $295
- Service car: $130
- Memorial printed package: $150
- Metal casket: $2,395
Casketed Adult Funeral with Viewing and Cremation
Even with a funeral service the cost of cremation is slightly less than the cost of a burial. In 2013, the average cost of a direct cremation (no services) was $2,260. With a memorial service, the average cost rose to $3,250. The average cost of a casketed adult funeral with a viewing and cremation was $5,410 in 2013.
How can I afford for my loved one’s funeral expenses?
A funeral can be very expensive, and many of the costs are non-negotiable. If your loved one died because of someone else’s negligence, then an insurance policy or a wrongful death claim may yield compensation for funeral and burial expenses.
Planning a funeral can be sorrowful and tragic. Funeral financing can exacerbate negative feelings. At Cordisco & Saile LLC, our attorneys can help you to understand your legal options for recovering compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one. To learn more about how we can help you get the money you need to pay for a funeral, call us at 215-642-2335 now. Or, if you want to learn a little bit more before you do something serious like file a claim, you can read our wrongful death blog.
