Nevada § 41.085 - Heirs and personal representatives may maintain action

§ 41.085. Heirs and personal representatives may maintain action

1. As used in this section, “ heir ” means a person who, under the laws of this State, would be entitled to succeed to

the separate property of the decedent if the decedent had died intestate. The term does not include a person who is deemed to be a killer of the decedent

pursuant to chapter 41B of NRS, and such a person shall be deemed to have predeceased

the decedent as set forth in NRS 41B.330 . 2. When the death of any person, whether or not a minor, is caused by the wrongful

act or neglect of another, the heirs of the decedent and the personal representatives

of the decedent may each maintain an action for damages against the person who caused

the death, or if the wrongdoer is dead, against the wrongdoer’s personal representatives,

whether the wrongdoer died before or after the death of the person injured by the

wrongdoer. If any other person is responsible for the wrongful act or neglect, or if the wrongdoer

is employed by another person who is responsible for the wrongdoer’s conduct, the

action may be maintained against that other person, or if the other person is dead,

against the other person’s personal representatives. 3. An action brought by the heirs of a decedent pursuant to subsection 2 and the cause

of action of that decedent brought or maintained by the decedent’s personal representatives

which arose out of the same wrongful act or neglect may be joined. 4. The heirs may prove their respective damages in the action brought pursuant to

subsection 2 and the court or jury may award each person pecuniary damages for the

person’s grief or sorrow, loss of probable support, companionship, society, comfort

and consortium, and damages for pain, suffering or disfigurement of the decedent. The proceeds of any judgment for damages awarded under this subsection are not liable

for any debt of the decedent. 5. The damages recoverable by the personal representatives of a decedent on behalf

of the decedent’s estate include: (a) Any special damages, such as medical expenses, which the decedent incurred or

sustained before the decedent’s death, and funeral expenses; and (b) Any penalties, including, but not limited to, exemplary or punitive damages, that

the decedent would have recovered if the decedent had lived, but do not include damages for pain, suffering or disfigurement of the decedent. The proceeds of any judgment for damages awarded under this subsection are liable

for the debts of the decedent unless exempted by law.