What Are Some Common Examples of Wrongful Death Cases?

Losing a loved one is one of the most painful things a human being can experience.

Grieving does help ease the pain, as does time, but there are things that can make the pain more severe. One such thing is the circumstances surrounding the death of your loved one.

The pain you feel when the death of a loved one wasn’t unexpected, such as when one dies after a long illness, is far different from an untimely death that was caused by the negligence of another party.

Cases of wrongful death are common in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of people losing their lives every year.

Continue reading to learn more about some of the most common examples of wrongful death.

Medical Malpractice/Negligence

When you’re ill, you go to a hospital or physician so that you can be treated and feel better. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen for thousands of people in the U.S.

Cases of medical malpractice are rampant. Every year, over 100,000 people succumb to injuries caused by doctors or healthcare facilities.

This can happen when, for instance, a doctor misdiagnoses a patient. Consequently, the patient is put on a treatment plan that causes harm to the body.

Or, the doctor can be negligent, such as performing surgery when they’re under the influence. In such a state, the doctor is more likely to make a mistake, such as an accidental incision, that results in the death of the patient.

Vehicle Accidents

When you get behind the wheel and hit the road, the last thought on your mind is getting into an accident. Unfortunately, accidents are very common.

While an accident can happen as a result of your own mistake or negligence, it can also happen because of another party’s negligence.

For example, if another driver rams into you from behind because they were over speeding, there would be a strong case of wrongful death if you or your passengers pass on.

Sometimes the at-fault party doesn’t need to be another motorist. It could be a government authority if a fatal accident happens because the said authority failed to erect the relevant road signs.

Workplace Accidents and Illnesses

Employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees.

While most employers strive to provide such an environment, accidents and illnesses still happen. If a worker gets into a fatal accident on the job, that could be a case of wrongful death. Bear in mind that an investigation would need to be conducted and the employer found to be culpable.

Accidental Poisoning

You go to your favorite restaurant to have a good meal. Unbeknownst to you, the restaurant serves you food that had gone bad. Your stomach is poisoned as a result, and you succumb to the condition.

That’s a case of wrongful death because food service establishments are required to serve safe and healthy food.

If the death of a loved one occurred in any of these circumstances, you can always hire a wrongful death lawyer to help you seek justice.

Wrongful Death Is Super Painful

We will all die, sure, but nobody wants to die before their time comes. Unfortunately, wrongful deaths happen every day in healthcare facilities, on the road, in workplaces, and many other places. When it happens to a loved one, the pain can be unbearable, but seeking justice can help ease it.

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