It’s true that even if a cherished family member lost their life too soon that does not mean it was a wrongful death. Some people go to the hospital and do not come out because of fatal diseases. In other examples, other people lose loved ones because of natural disasters or “acts of God.” While accidents can and do happen, there are other times when a loved one’s death could have been prevented entirely had it not been for the carelessness of someone else involved. This can make the grieving process extremely difficult because not only do you miss your loved one but you may feel anger toward the person who took their life. Attorneys at know you have every right to those feelings and are here to help you seek justice through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful Death Is Essentially Personal Injury
When you are wondering what a wrongful death lawsuit is, you can think of it similar to a personal injury case. If someone harmed your loved one or acted in a way that was otherwise negligent that caused your loved one to become personally injured and your loved one could and would have filed a personal injury lawsuit, then you likely have a wrongful death claim. If the injuries your loved one sustained led to their death before they had the chance to file a personal injury lawsuit, then it is likely you could successfully file a wrongful death claim.
One of the big questions that comes up is this: what happens if your loved one was partially at fault for the accident that occurred? The truth is we need to look at this on a case by case basis. In some cases, if your loved one contributed to the accident happening in some way then you may not be able to successfully file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Common Examples of Wrongful Death Lawsuits
There are many ways that a wrongful death can occur. If you are unsure about your loved one’s accident, it may help to look at the examples below.
- Slip and fall accidents on someone’s property
- Doctor or hospital medical malpractice cases
- Car accidents involving negligent drivers or drunk drivers
- Nursing home abuse/neglect
- Truck accidents involving fatigued or distracted drivers
These are just some of the more common examples of what can lead to wrongful deaths. Your case may be entirely different and have a different cause leading to your loved one’s death, which is why it is important that you contact a wrongful death attorney in Lakeland, Florida to discuss how they can help you gather evidence for your wrongful death claim.
Thanks to David & Philpot, P.L. for their insight into personal injury claims and wrongful death claims.