A complete list would be impossible, as wrongful deaths can occur in almost any situation where another person’s or entity’s negligence leads to a person’s death. But here are some of the more common ways wrongful deaths happen:
Car, truck, or motorcycle accidents. This is one of the most common reasons for wrongful death cases. In some instances, the defendant may have been charged with a related crime in criminal court, such as vehicular manslaughter, but it’s still possible to pursue a wrongful death claim if they were not charged or convicted in criminal court.
Boating accidents or drownings.
Plane or train crashes.
Medical malpractice. You may have a wrongful death claim if you believe your loved one died because of a doctor’s error.
Defective drugs or medical devices. Sometimes people think a doctor is to blame for the decedent’s passing, but we find a defective medical device like a pacemaker or IVC blood clot filter was the cause. Or, they may have been prescribed a drug with potentially fatal interactions or side effects that weren’t disclosed. If someone you love died suddenly after starting a new medication or starting to use a new medical device, it’s worth requesting their medical records and having a lawyer take a look.
Abuse or neglect in a nursing home, rehabilitation center, or other in-patient healthcare facility. This can range from failing to treat a patient having a health crisis to leaving the patient unattended until they develop bedsores that lead to a fatal infection.
Workplace accidents, especially on construction sites or in factories or other facilities where heavy machinery is used. Many of these cases are covered by workers’ comp insurance, but in some situations, you may have a wrongful death claim against a third party who caused an accident on the job site. If the deceased was driving for work and died in a car accident, you might have a workers’ comp claim and a third-party claim.
Defective product cases. These may overlap with other cases, like car crashes or workplace accidents. For example, a defective car component could cause a person to become trapped in their car if it catches fire, or a defective parking brake on a piece of heavy machinery on a job site could cause a person’s death. Alternatively, a defective product may lead to a person’s death in a house fire, explosion, or through an illness.