Losing someone close is a misfortune hard to recover from. When caused by someone’s negligence and recklessness, it becomes an even more difficult situation to deal with. If you have lost a close family member due to somebody else’s wrongful mistakes, you need to get your rightful compensation.
Thus, you need to get a grip of yourself, contact a lawyer, and sue for wrongful death when the claim is viable. Make sure to hire an experienced wrongful death lawyer for you to get the justice you deserve. But first, you need to be informed by the attorney if you’ll have a case against the defendant before filing a claim.
What Wrongful Death Lawsuits Entail
You need to know how wrongful death cases work before you formulate a lawsuit. Some wrongful death lawsuits are accidental; they don’t have to be due to negligence all the time. Here are some of the causes and types that may result in wrongful death cases:
1. Wrongful Car Accident Deaths
Car accidents are the most common causes of wrongful death. Some of these accidents result in serious injuries that eventually lead to death or cause immediate death at the scene. Car accidents are mostly caused by at least one or two drivers’ recklessness on the road, which may include the following:
- Drunk driving
- Driving of defective cars on the roads
- Speeding
- Driving distracted
- Driving tired
- Poor road conditions
In a situation where you’ve lost your loved one due to such factors, you’re able to file a wrongful death claim to get compensation for your loss.
2. Wrongful Death Due to Medical Malpractice
When you trust a medical professional with your life, and he/she mishandles you, it can be quite frustrating. Medical practitioners are required to give the best standards of care possible. When you lose someone due to a medical practitioner’s negligence or wrongful mistakes, you need to seek legal help to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Medical malpractice can occur under the following conditions:
- You have been misdiagnosed.
- Defective equipment has been used.
- A medical professional fails to diagnose a condition.
- Surgical and/or pharmaceutical errors have taken place.
- A birth injury has occurred.
3. Defective Products Wrongful Death
When companies manufacture products, they should first get them tested, since some can be very toxic or otherwise dangerous to humans. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to confirm his/her products are viable for the public market. Therefore, if a defective product causes your close family member’s death, you’re able to raise a case against the manufacturer. Death by defective products can be due to some of the following:
- Toxic foods
- Wrong products made for kids
- Defective vehicles
- Toxic drugs
- Unexpectedly explosive products
- Products without proper warning labels
4. Workplace Accidents Wrongful Death
Employers should ensure that the working conditions are safe for their employees in every way possible. However, some jobs are risky and can pose a great danger to the worker. Therefore, when you lose a close family member in the line of duty, you need to be compensated by the employers. Some cases that result in workplace death may include the following:
- Slip and fall accident
- Caught in between machinery or collapsing mines
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Being electrocuted
- Struck by equipment
5. Wrongful Death Due to Accidental Drowning
Bodies of water can pose a great danger, especially to non-swimmers. Both the guardian and the lifeguard are responsible, and when a family member dies due to a drowning accident, they can be held liable for the loss. Therefore, if you lose a loved one from an accidental drowning when they were under supervision, it’s considered wrongful death.
Seek Legal Justice
If somebody else’s mistakes and negligence caused your loved one’s death, then you need to file a case against them. You should only do this if your claim is legit. Contact a wrongful death attorney to help you throughout the process and to assist you in acquiring your rightful compensation. Filing a lawsuit isn’t a revenge mission but a way to make sure the at-fault party is held accountable for his/her actions.