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What Are the Different Types of Wrongful Death Cases That Occur Today?

One of the worst feelings in life is losing a loved one. Losing a loved one due to a preventable accident is unjust. It’s hard to learn that a family member’s death was caused by someone’s carelessness.

The reality is that wrongful deaths are common. These types of deaths can result in a large amount of compensation

If a family member passes away because of the error of another person, you must seek justice for your loved one. There are different types of wrongful death cases. Read on to learn more about the common wrongful death cases that occur today. 

Car Accidents

Car accidents are one of the most common types of wrongful death cases. Data shows that in 2019, there were 33,244 fatal motor vehicle crashes. Over 36,090 deaths occurred. 

Most car accidents are due to driver’s negligence. The actions that drivers take part in can affect their ability to drive. These include speeding and reckless driving. 

There are laws that drivers must follow, but many fail to do so. Several states have a ban on texting and driving. Despite the law, a lot of drivers choose to text while driving. 

There’s no place for distracting driving. Drivers should pay attention to the road at all times. Driving under the influence can lead to wrongful death. 

A negligent driver can be liable for the deaths of other drivers and passengers. The family of the dead loved one can file a negligence lawsuit. The driver who caused the accident will be named in the lawsuit. 

If the car accident was due to road issues, the city or county might be liable. This can be the case if there was a safety issue present on the road. 

If your loved one died as a result of a car accident, you should call a wrongful death attorney. This type of attorney knows how negligence in law works. By hiring a wrongful death attorney, you can recover compensation for your loved one. 

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Pedestrians tend to have the right of way. Drivers must respect pedestrians and give them space. Some drivers fail to do so. 

When drivers fail to look out for pedestrians, drivers can kill them. This type of wrongful death case makes the news all the time. In some cases, drivers will fail to stop and render aid. 

Drivers can also cause fatal bicycle accidents. These tend to occur even when there are bike lanes. Drivers must respect pedestrians and people on bikes. 

Medical Malpractice

When you seek medical care, you expect to receive high-quality care. Doctors and nurses have the skills and expertise to provide high-quality care. The reality is that they are humans and they can make mistakes. 

Mistakes and errors can lead to medical malpractice. In some cases, it can lead to the death of a patient. Negligence is one of the factors that contribute to medical malpractice. 

The elements of negligence in healthcare include breach of duty and damages. Healthcare providers have a duty to do good. This means they must provide the best treatment possible. 

When healthcare providers fail to do so, they breach their contract. In essence, they fail to perform their duty. Damages must occur for a medical malpractice case to occur. 

In healthcare, there’s no room for errors. Doctors must make the right diagnosis. They shouldn’t commit medication errors or fail to follow the correct procedure. 

Workplace Accidents and Illnesses

Fatal accidents in the workplace can happen. Data shows that in 2020, there were a total of 4,764 fatal injuries across all sectors. 

Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees. They must have policies and procedures in place that help to prevent accidents. Dangerous situations in the workplace can lead to a wrongful death case. 

Different types of negligence in the workplace can lead to the death of a worker. Falling objects can kill a worker. Slip and fall accidents can cause death. 

Several factors can lead to a fatal workplace accident. Unsafe equipment is one of the major causes of death in the workplace. Failing to keep the work area free of spills or debris can put workers in harm’s way. 

Defective Products

When you buy a product, you expect it to be in working condition. This isn’t always the case. Some manufacturers fail to properly inspect their products. 

Some manufacturers might intentionally put out defective products. Whatever the case might be, if a person dies because of a defective product, the manufacturer can be held liable. 

Types of wrongful death cases due to defective products might be the result of toxic foods. A food that contains harmful substances can make a person sick and lead to the person’s death. 

Unsafe products designed for children can also cause wrongful death. This is common with defective cribs, strollers, and bunk beds. 

There have been many infant wrongful death cases involving a falling dresser. It’s up to the manufacturer that makes the dresser or the company that sells it to make a recall. Sadly, deaths occur before a recall announcement is made. 

Dog Bite Death Caused by an Unrestrained Pet

Did one of your loved ones die after being bit by a dog? Liability for a dog attack can include wrongful death damages if the dog bite leads to death. There might be a case if the dog wasn’t restrained on public property. 

These Are Some of the Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Accidents can happen. When accidents do lead to death, there might be a case for a wrongful death lawsuit. There are some of the common types of wrongful death cases that occur today. 

If one of your loved ones died because of a wrongful death case, you should hire a wrongful death attorney. Make sure you get justice for your loved one. 

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