A wrongful death is the death of one person due to the negligence of another person. This can include accidents, negligence, and intentional acts. Wrongful death lawsuits allow the surviving family to hold whomever is responsible for the death legally responsible. Most often, a spouse, child, parent, or partner files the wrongful death case.
As you can imagine, accidents, negligence, and intentional acts covers a broad spectrum of possible causes for wrongful death. There are, however, some types of wrongful death cases that are more common than others. Below, our Atlanta personal injury attorney discusses some of the more common types of wrongful death cases.
What are the Most Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases?
Some of the most common reasons why people file wrongful death lawsuits include:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of, if not the most, common reason why people file wrongful death claims. The majority of fatal car accidents that occur in the United States are the result of driver error, including negligence. Some factors that lead to these fatal accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield
- Left-turn collisions
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is a tragic reality despite how most all of us wish it weren’t so. Medical negligence has been named the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., following only heart disease and cancer. Some examples of the types of medical negligence that can lead to a wrongful death include:
- Failure to diagnose a medical condition
- Failure to properly treat a medical condition
- Leaving surgical items inside the patient
- Operating on the wrong patient or body part
- Medication prescribing errors
- Medication administration errors
- Birth injuries
Workplace Accidents
Federal laws require that workplaces are safe and free from hazards. Workers should be trained and equipped to perform their work without unnecessary risks. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen. Employer negligence is a tremendous problem as work environments are allowed to become hazardous and workers are allowed to work without proper safety gear. Some workplace accidents that lead to wrongful death cases include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Equipment malfunctions
- Entanglement incidents
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Electrocution
- Burns
- Objects falling on the employee
Defective Products
Defective products are another sad reality for consumers. When manufacturers design or manufacture products that are not safe, consumers are put at risk for a variety of illnesses and injuries, or death. Some examples of defective products that can cause serious harm or death include:
- Defective drugs
- Defective medical devices
- Defective vehicle parts
- Incorrectly packaged food
- Food that is mislabeled
- Food that is contaminated
- Children’s toys that contain choking hazards
- Children’s items that are flammable or toxic
As you can see, there are a variety of situations that can lead to a wrongful death. No matter what the cause, the tragic loss of a loved one is something that families should never have to bear alone.
Get Help with Your Wrongful Death Case
If you have lost someone you love to any of these, or other, causes of wrongful death, you may find it helpful to contact a wrongful death lawyer. At The Dixon Firm, PC, we work with clients who are grieving and are looking for justice for their loved one. Contact us if you have questions or concerns, or if you are interested in filing a wrongful death case.