Wrongful death can be described as a tragic event that occurs when someone dies due to the negligence, recklessness, carelessness, or intentional acts of another. Wrongful death accidents can take a toll on the deceased’s loved ones as they struggle to cope with the loss and look to find answers, clarity, and closure.
In this article, we will explore some of the most common causes of wrongful death in order to shed light on this important topic.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of wrongful death, and there are many different types of it. It occurs when a healthcare professional provides substandard or inadequate care that results in the death of the patient.
Some of the most common examples of medical malpractice include surgical errors, delayed diagnoses, medication mistakes, anesthesia errors, birth injuries, and failing to treat a patient for their injury or illness some of which if related to a baby, can be handled with the help of a professional Child birth injury lawyer.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, bicycles, or pedestrians are also a main contributor to wrongful death.
The incidents typically arise from negligent and reckless behaviors such as speeding, driving under the influence, or engaging in distracted driving. In some cases, poor road conditions and vehicle defects may also play a contributing role.
Workplace Accidents
Wrongful death accidents can also arise in the workplace, particularly in high-risk industries such as construction, agriculture, transportation, and warehousing. These types of workplace accidents are often caused by defective products, lack of proper training, unsafe working conditions, and failure to abide by safety regulations.
Although employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace environment and ensure that proper protective measures are taken, unfortunately, accidents still occur and not all employers oblige. This negligence can result in catastrophic injuries and death.
Defective Products
Defective products also have the potential to result in wrongful death. When a product malfunctions or leads to a fatality, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer may be held liable and an extensive investigation should be taken to determine the cause, be it a design flaw, manufacturing error, or insufficient warnings and instructions.
One notable example of this would be a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Ikea because one of their dressers toppled over and killed a young child. Unfortunately, several other children have also lost their lives to this Ikea dresser.
Filing a Claim
Ultimately, no amount of compensation can ever make up for the lost life of your loved one. However, filing a wrongful death claim may help some find a sense of clarity and bring financial assistance to those filing. The rules for filing differ from state to state, each with different time limits to file, guidelines for who can file, and damage caps.
If you are considering filing, it is important that you enlist the help of a wrongful death attorney who can help you understand the laws in your state, gather evidence and relevant details, and fill out pertinent paperwork. Having the expertise of an attorney on your side can greatly alleviate the stress of the legal process, allowing you to focus on your healing journey and grieve the loss.