Losing a loved one unexpectedly due to the negligence of others is both heartbreaking and horrifying. And while taking action is probably not your first priority while you’re still in mourning, if their death was caused by someone else’s reckless behavior, you deserve compensation and should consult a wrongful death lawyer.
While is some cases like automobile and motorcycle accidents caused by drunk driving, the responsible party may face criminal charges. But although they are serving time for their wrongdoing, you will still be left with hospital and funeral bills, in addition to other building costs for expenses like therapy or even a loss in income due to missing work.
Several causes of wrongful death should lead you to consulting a wrongful death lawyer. Here are just a few examples of potential cases that you can trust with a personal injury law firm.
- Accidents and injuries are the most common causes of wrongful death. Reckless driving, unsafe working conditions, slip and fall cases from unkept sidewalks or roads, or falls from poorly constructed buildings are all examples of accidents that would warrant a wrongful death case, but there are certainly other accidents that can occur.
- Medical malpractice and negligence kills more people annually than one may expect. Misdiagnosis or failure to recognize a fatal disease could satisfy grounds for a wrongful death case, as could surgical and treatment errors. If a medical professional did not provide your loved one with the necessary care, leading to their death, contact a lawyer.
- Defective products can cause very unexpected deaths. Products we think are safe, like cribs or vehicles, can actually cause injuries or death, despite correct use. GM recently faced lawsuits for faulty ignition switches, and just this year Jeep had to recall the 2015 Grand Cherokee because the brakes were faulty, causing the vehicle to roll away, despite being in park. Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the Star Trek reboot, was killed after being pinned by a Grand Cherokee in June 2016, though his death was officially ruled as an accident.
- Pharmaceutical companies often come under fire by failing to disclose harmful side effects of their drugs. Some may even actively hide these effect. Failure to disclose adverse reactions with other drugs can cause unexpected illness or death, which in turn should result in placing a call to a wrongful death lawyer.
Regardless of where you are in the grieving process, it is imperative that the responsible party be charged in order to compensate you properly. Call a personal injury lawyer that specializes in wrongful death suits as soon as you are able. Helpful info also found here.