The sudden loss of a loved one, mainly due to someone else’s negligence, is confusing, shocking, and painful. Although you and your family may be entitled to compensation for the loss of your loved one, you may not be sure if you should file a wrongful death claim. Here are instances you should seek the help of a wrongful death attorney:
Medical Malpractice
According to a John Hopkins study, medical errors claim the lives of more than 250,000 Americans annually. Health professionals owe their clients (patients) a duty of care. Wrongful death occurs when these professionals breach this duty. It is very difficult to cope up with the loss of a loved one.
Medical malpractice cases are more complicated than other cases because it’s not easy to prove that it’s the cause of death. You need an experienced wrongful death lawyer to help you through the process. The lawyer will consider mistakes such as:
Incorrect diagnosis
Improper site operation
Birthing errors
Surgical items left inside the body
Workplace Accidents
You could file a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died due to workplace-related accidents. Physical jobs carry varying risks. People working in farming, law enforcement, and construction are more susceptible to accidents than those in office administration and retail.
Not all workplace deaths constitute a wrongful death case. Contact a wrongful death lawyer if your loved one dies at work. The lawyer will help you uncover what exactly caused the death of your loved one. They will also establish if the death of your loved one should be pursued under civil law, worker’s compensation, or both.
Another Person’s Negligence
If your loved one died in a car crash due to the negligent actions of another person, you should contact a lawyer to help you file a wrongful death claim. Like other accidents, a car accident is complicated and may involve others who could bear the blame. They include:
- The driver
- Manufacturers
- The driver’s employer
- Highway departments
Pharmaceutical Drug Mistake
Pharmaceutical errors may happen when a doctor recommends the wrong medicines or when pharmacists give the wrong dosage or medicine. The error could also occur when a medication company doesn’t fully inform the patient about the probable side effects of a certain prescription, or if the company attempts to hide the harmful side effects of drugs.
If your loved one died due to any of these circumstances, you could seek compensation under wrongful death claims.
A Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help
Seeking compensation for your deceased loved one is the best thing you can do for them and yourself. While compensation cannot completely erase the pain of losing a loved one, it can ease it to some extent.
The legal process can be tedious, lengthy, and intimidating to many people, but a wrongful death lawyer can help you through the process. A reputable wrongful death attorney should have many years of experience handling these cases. They will negotiate with the insurance companies and file a lawsuit on your behalf.