A wrongful death lawsuit is a legal claim made on behalf of a deceased person for the harm that was caused by the defendant’s negligence. It is an event that people never wish to happen.
Understanding when you might have a case is crucial to seeking justice for your loved one. You can always turn to the wrongful death lawyers at TopDog Law and other top law firms for legal advice on winning fair compensation.
There are several possible situations under which wrongful death can occur. Some of them are even more likely to occur than others. Here are five situations that could lead to a wrongful death lawsuit.
1. Medical Malpractice
It can be safely argued that medical mistakes are a major killer in modern society. According to research by Johns Hopkins, patient errors cost nearly 250,000 lives in health facilities in the U.S. annually.
If a doctor cannot diagnose an illness, give the appropriate treatment, or commit surgical mistakes, it could be fatal to the patient. In such circumstances, the hospital or the medical professional may be held responsible.
2. Car Accidents
Road accidents, specifically those involving cars, remain one of the most common causes of wrongful death cases. If a person is driving carelessly, driving fast, or driving after taking alcohol or other substances, then the family of a victim in an accident may proceed to the court.
Motor vehicular incidents are responsible for a significant number of wrongful death claims.
3. Workplace Accidents
Most employees do not know that they can make wrongful death claims following an accident at the workplace. Jobs like construction, manufacturing, or those requiring heavy tools are more dangerous. The chances of a worker losing their life at the worksite are dangerously high.
There are reports that 5,190 workers lost their lives at work in 2021. Many of those deaths could have been prevented. Employers are expected to ensure that their employees work in a safe environment, a lack of which may lead to death and wrongful death claims.
4. Defective Products
When a product malfunctions or poses a danger to the consumer, the consequence could be fatal or, at the very least, could lead to serious injuries. It may be possible for manufacturers, designers, or even distributors to be held responsible in case the product that they manufactured, designed, or distributed, respectively, didn’t function as it intended to and ended up killing up someone.
A defective product, like faulty airbags, is also a reason for wrongful death cases. In such accidents, the liable party is usually the manufacturer.
5. Premises Liability
If a person dies as a result of ill-prepared or hazardous conditions at someone else’s property, then the property owner can be held liable for wrongful death. For instance, if a person loses their life in a slip and fall accident, the property owner could be responsible for paying compensation as they were expected to keep the property free of dangers.
Stakeholders, especially those who own property, are responsible for providing a safe space for people.
Conclusion
In each of these cases, legal proceedings allow the plaintiff to be compensated financially. They also provide some much-needed closure to the loved ones of the deceased. If you fall into such a situation, then it is crucial that you do something.
Hiring an experienced wrongful death lawyer will be immensely useful to your case. For advice on what to do and to make certain that your family receives the rightful compensation it is entitled to, please contact an experienced wrongful death lawyer. Their expertise is crucial to establishing negligence, calculating compensation, and negotiating for a fair settlement with the insurance company.