Wrongful death cases are among the most personal tragedies one can endure. It is a time of tremendous grief for surviving family members and friends of the deceased, who have to deal with their loss and many financial pressures resulting from an untimely death.
Wrongful death cases often have a legal dimension that requires some level of legal representation, yet may also require substantial financial support from others to survive loved ones to pay for medical care and funeral arrangements and other expenses associated with their loved one’s passing.
In that case, a Lake Charles wrongful death Lawyer can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit, you are essentially suing on behalf of a deceased person’s estate or family members.
However, there are different kinds of wrongful death cases that can impact what types of damages you can recover and who can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased.
Here’s a brief description of some common situations in which a wrongful death lawsuit may apply:
1. Automobile accidents
Automobile accidents are one of the most common reasons for wrongful deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 31,720 people died in automobile accidents in 2021 alone.
These fatal auto accidents are often the result of negligence from another driver or other party. These involve different injuries and circumstances, including rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, roadway issues, drunk driving, distracted driving (such as texting while driving), speeding, and road rage.
Therefore an experienced wrongful death Lawyer Lake Charles, can help you determine whether the accident was due to negligence on the other driver’s part. They will identify all available insurance coverage and damages and further negotiate with insurers on your behalf.
2. Workplace accidents
Wrongful deaths on the job can happen due to various reasons, but the most common are falls and explosions or fires, while others include electrocutions, being struck by an object, or machinery errors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 4,764 people came across fatal accidents on the job in 2020— down slightly from 5,333 in 2019 — and many more sustained catastrophic injuries such as paralysis or traumatic brain injuries that ultimately led to their deaths.
So if you lost a loved one in a workplace accident that you believe was caused by negligence or misconduct, you might have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. You could be entitled to financial compensation for the loss of your family member’s income and benefits and their companionship and support.
3. Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is another type of wrongful death case. This occurs when a health care provider or hospital commits some medical error or fails to provide an adequate level of care to a patient. Examples include misdiagnosing a disease, delayed treatment, pharmaceutical errors, or failing to provide life-saving treatment for a medical condition that was known to exist.
It is estimated that nearly 250,000 deaths occurred due to medical errors. Therefore doctors and other medical professionals must maintain a certain standard of care, or they could face serious charges if their actions result in a person’s death. The best course of action is to consult with a wrongful death attorney Lake Charles who has extensive experience in medical malpractice cases.
4. Deaths due to defective products
Wrongful death lawsuits can be brought against anyone who manufactures or distributes a product, including manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and retailers. If a product has not been properly inspected for flaws or inadequacies, it can result in severe injury and death.
And when these products take the life of your closed ones, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturer or other party involved with the product.
However, many defective products can cause fatal injuries, such as toxic food and containers, expired consumable products, defective drugs, warning defects, etc.
5. Motorcycle, Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
When a motorist crashes into a bicyclist or pedestrian, it can be dangerous and fatal. In many cases, motorists claim that they did not see the pedestrian or bicyclist before impact. While this may be true in some cases, these accidents often occur because a driver ignored the road and violated traffic laws. Anytime a vehicle collides with another vehicle or person, there are potential injuries resulting in death.
They may survive the initial crash in some circumstances, but their injuries may be severe enough to require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and lifelong disability.
6. Commercial Trucking Accidents
Commercial trucking accidents differ from other types of accidents in several ways. Because the vehicles involved are so large, the damages can be substantial. Commercial trucks are often involved in multiple-vehicle crashes, and many different parties might have played a role in causing the accident.
However, accidents involving commercial trucking vehicles often result in severe injuries and fatalities, including fatigued truck drivers, improperly secured cargo, trucking company negligence, poor maintenance, and many more.
So if you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, trucking company, or other parties responsible for your loved one’s death. However, it can be difficult to determine liability in these cases without the assistance of an experienced attorney like wrongful death attorney Lake Charles.
It’s time to hire a wrongful death attorney.
The loss of a loved one is always devastating, especially when someone else’s negligence caused the death. Although no amount of money can bring your loved one back, filing a wrongful death lawsuit with a Lake Charles personal injury lawyer may help you and your family move forward.
The wrongful death Lawyer at Lake Charles based firms has extensive experience handling these types of wrongful death cases and will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve for your loss.
Contact now and learn more about your options for recovering compensation.
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