The author is a social worker and Director of Victim Services for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and has worked personally with vehicular crash victims and homicide survivors. The discussion emphasizes that a sudden and violent death may produce more anger, sadness, and fear than other losses and that each person grieves differently, based on their own life experiences, the quality of the relationship with the person who was killed, and many other factors. It explains the normal emotional reactions following trauma and the common reactions that follow the death of a child, a sibling, a mate, and a parent. Additional suggestions focus on holidays, spirituality, the role of professional counseling, the special issues related to suicide, methods of coping with the criminal justice system, and financial issues. Index, 30 references, and lists of resource organizations.