While both involve the death of someone due to another's actions, wrongful death and murder are two very different matters. Wrongful death is a civil claim, and murder is a criminal offense. A wrongful death claim is separate from a murder case, even if the responsible party was found to be criminally liable. Prosecutors may or may not file criminal charges against a responsible party in the event of a death. Even if they don't, family members can still file a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death lawsuits allow families to seek monetary damages from the responsible party, rather than seek criminal penalties.
