Can other relatives ever recover for a wrongful death?

A: In very limited circumstances, close relatives can recover for the mental anguish they experience when they personally witness the death of their loved one.  This is called a “bystander” claim.  To recover, the relative must have a close relationship, such as a sibling, a grandparent, or an uncle who actually lived with the deceased, and must have seen or heard the incident which caused the death.