5 Most Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Losing a loved one is always painful for the family, especially if caused by another's negligence. Spouses and children are the most affected, as their life quality will drastically change emotionally and financially. 

Wrongful death attorneys understand how heartbreaking the death of a dear family member can be for the survivors. You have full rights to file a lawsuit for loss of companionship, lost wages, and funeral expenses. 

Although nothing can bring back your loved one, you can obtain compensation for the unexpected expenses and hardships that follow by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. The following five points are the most common types of wrongful death cases and will help you understand how to proceed further with your wrongful death lawsuit.

Car Accidents

​Car accidents are tragic events that cause severe injuries and, in some cases, even death. Accidents happen for various reasons: weather conditions, road hazards, or because of a driver's negligence.

If the individual was driving under the influence of alcohol or other illicit substances, he was responsible for the accident. On the other hand, if the accident occurred due to the lack of road maintenance, the administrative association responsible for road safety can be liable for the damages.

Truck Accidents

While car accidents cause extensive damage, the outcome will be even worse when someone collides with a truck. Trucks are heavy vehicles - if it collides with a smaller vehicle, their passengers will suffer extensive injuries that can lead to death. 

If a truck driver does not abide by traffic rules or if they drive aggressively, the probability of being involved in an accident increases, and the driver is liable for the damages. Additionally, suppose the truck experiences mechanical issues due to the company's negligence in maintaining it properly. In that case, you can sue the company for wrongful death.

​Defective Product Liability

​Most manufacturers work hard to produce high-quality and safe products. Commercial products must withstand a series of tests to ensure they are safe for the consumer. A manufacturer failing to meet the standards can cause unfortunate situations such as death. 

The most common defective products that lead to wrongful death are pharmaceuticals, toxic food products, containers, childcare products, and toys that present a hazard and defective vehicles.

​Workplace Break of Safety Rules

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers are responsible for the safety of their workers while on the job. Several repetitive misconducts happen at the workplace. A few examples are repetitive motion and strain injuries, manufacturing accidents, transportation industry accidents, and railroad workers' injuries.  

Although in most cases, the family can obtain compensation from death benefits through the state's workers' comp system, some exceptions allow them to file for a wrongful death lawsuit.

​Medical Malpractice

​When you entrust your health to a medical professional, you expect appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. When certain doctors and nurses fail to provide the correct care, one might suffer birth injuries and defects, wrong diagnosis, improper treatments, and surgical or pharmaceutical errors. 

Such mistakes can lead to the individual's death, causing distress to the grieving family. The medical worker that caused this situation will be held liable for their actions and must compensate the family for their losses.