What are the most common causes of a wrongful death?

A wrongful death occurs when one party’s negligent actions cause someone else’s death. A  wrongful death claim is set forth by the victim’s family, typically the spouse and/or the children. The victim’s family can pursue legal action for their own benefit and the benefit of the deceased person’s estate.

There are many different incidents in which a wrongful death occurs, including car and truck accidents, work accidents, medical malpractice, and more. Wrongful death claims can be painful for a bereaved family, so it is best to pursue legal action with the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer.

Common Causes of a Wrongful Death

There are many different scenarios in which a wrongful death can occur. No matter the incident, there is likely a party at fault who should be held liable for the accident. The following are just some of the most common causes of a wrongful death resulting in a lawsuit. 

Car accidents

Often, car accidents that result in wrongful death are caused by traffic violations, such as speeding, reckless driving, and distracted driving. They also can be due to drunk driving or impaired driving. 

In some cases, manufacturer’s errors can cause vehicles to malfunction, but more often than not, causes of a wrongful death from car accidents are due to human error and negligence.

Truck accidents

Just like car accidents, truck accidents are another main cause of wrongful death. Truck accidents are those that involve large commercial trucks that weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. It’s easy to see how a truck accident can cause a fatality when a truck driver makes a judgment error or is careless.

The largest commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks or 18-wheelers, can be up to 20 to 30 times heavier than an average car. Unlike car accidents, however, truck accidents that result in wrongful death can leave more than one party liable for the death: the truck driver, the trucking company, and in some cases, the truck manufacturer. 

Truck accidents are handled differently than car accidents in the legal system, but a lawsuit will help determine who is held liable and how much they will be held liable for.

Work accidents

Work accidents can result in injuries that are short-term or long-term, and they can be debilitating, life-changing, and life-threatening. Even a simple slip and fall can cause a recurring concussion and permanent brain damage. In the most severe cases, work accidents can kill a worker. 

While work accidents happen in a wide range of workplaces, those who are most susceptible to workplace accidents and wrongful deaths in workplaces are those who work with large machinery or dangerous substances, such as in manufacturing facilities, construction, chemical plants, and more. 

It is also common for these types of industries to lack acceptable training programs, leaving workers exposed and vulnerable.

Defective products

Businesses who sell products of any kind can be held liable for any defective product that results in death. A wrongful death action can be taken against the company, no matter how big or small they are. Businesses must follow product liability laws to ensure the safety of their products, but defective products are, unfortunately, a common cause of death in people of all ages. 

Defective products can be everything from machinery to toys, medical equipment, appliances, cleaning materials, and more. Sometimes, defective products result in injury, and other times, in death.

Drug accidents

Just like any other product manufacturer, prescription drug companies are held liable to meet certain standards set forth to protect both medical professionals and patients. When a prescription drug is taken properly but side effects cause death, wrongful death action can and should be taken.

Medical malpractice

Medical professionals are obligated to provide a certain level of care to every patient. When doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals breach their obligation to this duty, injuries or death can occur, which is referred to as medical malpractice. 

Medical malpractice acts can take place when there is an error in treatment, error during surgery, a misdiagnosis or a delay of diagnosis, and more. Medical malpractice can also include neglect of elderly patients in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Biking accidents

Bikers share the road with commercial and non-commercial vehicles, so in some unfortunate cases, bikers get hit by motorists and die. Since a person on a bike is much smaller and less protected than regular cars and large commercial vehicles, the injuries that cause a wrongful death are very distressing to the victim’s family.

Get Help with Your Wrongful Death Claim Today

If a loved one has been involved in one of these common accidents and died, Haug Law Group’s top Atlanta wrongful death attorneys are here to help. We’ll be there for you every step of the way throughout your lawsuit, from gathering evidence to forming a strong case and even standing up against a tough defense team if we must go to trial.

Our experienced team has the knowledge and history of success to help you win justice and get the compensation you deserve. We won’t settle for anything less – check out some of our successful case results.

We’d love to hear about your case today and provide a free case evaluation. Call our team at 1-844-428-4529 or send us a message 24/7 for help. We look forward to hearing from you!