Wrongful death occurs when someone perishes due to another person’s extreme negligence or misconduct. The family of the victim typically files a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue compensation from the negligent party. Following a wrongful death, the victim’s family has the legal right to seek compensation that’ll cover immediate expenses such as medical costs and funeral costs, as well as compensating for factors like pain and suffering. While wrongful death can have many causes, we’ll explore five of the most common types of lawsuits.
- Automobile Accidents
While today’s cars are outfitted with more safety features than ever before, accidents still happen. Many automobile accidents aren’t directly a driver’s fault and may even be attributed to factors like weather, unsafe road conditions, or faulty machinery that the driver couldn’t have foreseen (such as a defective vehicle that should have been recalled). However, many wrongful death lawsuits can be attributed to a driver’s negligent actions, such as:
- Driving while under the influence
- Distracted driving—like texting and driving
- Engaging in reckless driving like speeding
- Not using turn signals
- Breaking other rules of the road
- Medical Malpractice
Our physicians and medical care facilities are held to a high standard to treat their patients, but sometimes negligent behavior occurs. While all medical procedures and treatments carry an inherent risk, medical malpractice refers to negligent or even intentional behavior that should have been avoided. Examples include:
- Misdiagnosis or not diagnosed in time
- Prescribing the wrong medication
- Operating on the wrong patient
- Defective Products
Defective products such as foods, toys, medications, machinery, tools, etc., may lead to injury or death. Additionally, most products need to undergo a rigorous process to ensure they’re safe for consumers. When a company knowingly releases a defective product, then it might face serious repercussions.
- Workplace-Related Accidents
Whether you’re working in an office or a factory, it’s your employer’s job to ensure a level of safety and security. Unfortunately, accidents like slips, falls, falling objects, losing limbs, etc., still occur. When an accident could have been avoided by implementing better working conditions, then seeking compensation from your loved one’s employer is your right. Alongside being paid for funeral costs, families can also pursue the loss of income.
- Construction Accidents
Alongside construction workers being susceptible to damage, pedestrians can be as well. Falling tools, improperly marked construction sites, and crashes with construction vehicles are all examples.
Damages You Can Seek
Following a wrongful death, there’s a broad spectrum of damages you can seek that will compensate for factors like:
- Funeral costs
- Medical costs (such as if your loved one was rushed to the emergency room before dying)
- Loss of income, including inheritance
- Pain and suffering the deceased experienced before perishing
- Pain and suffering the surviving family members experience
- The loss of companionship
- The development of conditions like PTSD
- Reduced quality of life for surviving family members
Dealing with the loss of a loved one takes a huge emotional toll. While nothing can bring your loved one back, having an experienced wrongful death attorney in Orland, FL, can help. Our friends at David & Philpot, P.L. have a team of wrongful death attorneys you can contact today.
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