5 Different Types of Wrongful Death Cases

When a loved one dies in an unexpected manner, it can be difficult to deal with. If your loved one's death was actually due to someone else's negligence, you could actually do something about it. You can file a wrongful death case in civil court to get financially compensated for your loved one's death. When it comes to wrongful death cases, there are five common types of wrongful death cases.

#1: Car Accidents

When it comes to wrongful deaths, car accidents top the list. There are thousands of car accidents each year, and some of those accidents result in fatalities. With a car accident, you can sue for negligence if the other driver was distracted or speeding. You can also sue for negligence if they were driving drunk or driving while drowsy, which can have a similar impact to alcohol impairment on one's decision-making ability.

If roadway issues caused the accident, you can sue the party responsible for taking care of and designing the road.

#2: Defective Products

Sometimes, a product doesn't work correctly; it can be so defective that it causes one's death, even when the user is using the product correctly. Manufacturers are considered by the courts to have a duty to ensure that their products are safe for people to use. If the product poses what is considered an unreasonable danger, the manufacturer can be held accountable. You can bring an individual wrongful death case against the manufacturer or join a class-action lawsuit against them if this incident occurred more than once.

#3: Workplace Deaths

The workplace should be a safe place. However, not all workplaces are that safe. Some workplaces present more risk than others; however, that still doesn't mean your loved one should lose their life while at work.

Work-related deaths are often caused by things as falls, electrocution, being hit by an object, or getting caught in equipment or materials. If the workplace didn't do everything they could to create a safe work environment, they can be held responsible with a lawsuit.

#4: Medical Malpractice

A medical malpractice lawsuit is another type of wrongful death lawsuit. With a medical malpractice lawsuit, you are going to have to show that someone who was in charge of taking care of your loved one made a fatal error that could have been avoided. That fatal error could include misdiagnosis, surgical error, pharmaceutical error, or hospital negligence, to name a few.

#5: Commercial Trucking Accident 

Finally, when a passenger vehicle gets into an accident with a commercial vehicle, the results are often deadly. Sometimes commercial trucking accidents are just that, accidents. Other times, other events were at play, such as mechanical failure, improperly secured loads, or driver error. The cause of the accident will determine the party you will want to pursue the wrongful death lawsuit against, which can vary from the truck driver to the company shipping the product.

These are just some of the most common types of wrongful death lawsuits that one can pursue. If you feel that someone else should be held responsible for your loved one's death, you should contact a wrongful death lawyer.

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