now why sould anyone be compensated for the fear someone else might have had?
this compensation racket is getting more and more ridiculous by the day
Because they cannot be compensated for their own emotional despair and mourning under the law in germany. But the damage claim from the deceased pax (i.e. the despair before his actual death) is inheritable.
As I said before, the families have to try and get everything they can, because the sums are rather smallish and do by no means secure the standard of living as in other jurisdictions where the compensation might be based on what the deceased could have earnt throughout his live or might be even higher because the compensations are thought to have punitive character.