Anytime someone that you love dies, it can be a struggle. Grief can overwhelm you and cause you to think unclearly. Most people want to blame someone, anyone, trying to make it easier, though it doesn’t always work that way. That being said, there are times when someone did cause the death. You may even have a wrongful death case.
So, what is wrongful death?
The basic meaning of wrongful death is death that is caused by someone else’s actions. They don’t even have to intend to hurt or kill someone. They can still be charged with wrongful death even if it is an accident.
Do you have a case? What are some common types of wrongful death cases that we may see?
The most common wrongful death cases are due to medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice cases can be complex. Many doctors are extremely busy, and there are times when they miss something. They may misdiagnose a patient and treat them the wrong way, causing them a lot of harm (including death).
Medical malpractice cases are more common in emergency rooms where doctors are put under a lot of stress balancing the large amount of patients that walk through their door. Since it is quite unpredictable how a person will react when they are put under anesthesia, this is another area that sees a lot of wrongful death cases.
Similar to medical malpractice claims, there are many wrongful death cases in nursing homes and other adult communities.
Many nursing homes and adult communities are overfilled with patients, leading to mistakes that could cause death. If a worker misses an illness and the patient dies, they could be held liable. If a family member doesn’t believe that a patient is being treated fairly and they die, they may have a wrongful death case.
Negligence of companies can lead to death (and wrongful death cases).
If a company produces a product that is not up-to-par, they could be held liable. This includes automobiles, airplanes, and other vehicles. If something that was recalled causes an accident (and death), the company will be held liable.
This is part of the reason why many companies inspect each airplane and other vehicles. If they send an airplane in the sky that is not in perfect working order, they may be facing a wrongful death case.
If your loved one was killed during a crime, you might have a wrongful death case.
Any type of crime could lead to death, especially if your loved one got between the criminal and they panicked (and took a shot). They could hit someone while they are driving too fast to escape the police. Armed robberies often end up with fatalities because weapons are involved.
There are also times when employers could be facing wrongful death claims due to a death at work.
This is especially true if the employers knew that their employees were exposed to hazardous conditions or substances, though any death at work may be considered wrongful death.
Anytime that you believe that your loved one was killed due to the negligence of someone else, you may want to look into a wrongful death case. Whether they lost their life due to an accident or a medical mistake, you deserve compensation. This won’t bring your loved one back but it can help you get through this difficult time. The extra money will allow you time to grieve and take care of yourself as you sort through your feelings.
Contact us for all of your legal needs. We would be glad to talk to you about your case to see if you have a wrongful death case.