We all were born one day. Since then, we’ve lived out our lives in whichever way has felt best. Unfortunately, one day we will all meet our untimely yet necessary ends. Death is an unavoidable part of life that no one can escape from.
The death of a human being has an immense impact on our lives and the world around us. It is often a time for grief, sadness, and reflection as we remember those who have passed away from us.
Despite this sorrowful time, there are also moments to celebrate their life. Family and friends take the opportunity to look back at fond memories they shared with them while cherishing any photos or mementos they left behind in remembrance of them.
We do many things to remember and honor our dead, and different cultures even have varied customs to honor their deceased members. For example, some cultures have specific funerary rights and ceremonies that are meant to commemorate the life of those who have passed away. Others may hold memorial services or burials in which people get together to say goodbye and show their final respects to a loved one.
In some cases, when a person dies due to another’s negligence or wrongful act, the family of the victim can seek justice by filing a wrongful death lawsuit with help from an experienced wrongful death attorney.
These attorneys specialize in representing families who have lost someone due to medical malpractice, car accidents caused by reckless driving, work-related incidents caused by employer negligence—and more—in order for them to receive the compensation they deserve from those responsible for their loss.
What is Wrongful Death?
So, here’s a question. If we all have to die someday, whether we want to or not, how does one die wrongfully? Wrongful death is when a person dies due to another’s negligence or wrongful act. It can occur in any number of ways, from medical malpractice to car accidents caused by reckless driving.
A wrongful death can happen in many different scenarios:
- Medical Malpractice
- This occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide the standard of care that would be expected and results in the patient’s injury or death.
- Car Accidents
- If a driver acts recklessly, such as speeding or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may cause an accident resulting in serious injuries and even fatalities for other drivers on the road with them.
- Work-related Incidents
- Employers have an obligation towards their employees to keep them safe while working; if they do not fulfill this obligation and it leads to injury or death then legal action may be taken against them for negligence causing wrongful death.
- Defective Products
- In some cases where manufacturers fail to adequately warn consumers about potential risks associated with their products, those who are injured because of these products may take legal action for damages incurred due to their defectiveness leading up to his/her passing away from it.
- Violent Crimes
- When someone is a victim of a violent crime such as assault, rape, or murder and passes away due to the injuries they sustained then their family may take legal action against those responsible.
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Nursing homes have a responsibility to protect the safety of their residents and if they fail to do so resulting in injury or death then legal action may be taken against them for wrongful death.
Wrongful death is nothing short of tragic and its effects can be felt for years afterward. It is an incredibly difficult time for the families of those who have passed away, as they must come to terms with the fact that their loved one was taken from them due to another’s negligence or wrongful act.
There is a range of emotions that the loved ones of someone who wrongfully died experience, for example:
- Grief
- This is the most common emotion experienced by those who have lost someone due to wrongful death. It can manifest itself in many forms such as sadness, anger, and despair.
- Shock
- Many people will be in shock upon hearing that their loved one has died wrongfully; it’s a difficult concept to process and may take time before they are able to accept what has happened.
- Guilt
- Some family members may feel guilty for not being able to protect their loved one from harm or prevent them from experiencing a wrongful death situation altogether.
- Anxiety & Depression
- The loss of a beloved person can cause feelings of anxiety and depression which affects how an individual lives out his/her daily life after the tragedy occurred.
- Confusion & Disbelief
- Wrongful deaths are often unexpected so those affected by it may experience confusion about why it happened or disbelief that something like this could occur at all.
- Anger
- It’s normal to feel angry when a loved one is gone due to another’s negligence or wrongful act. This anger can be directed towards those responsible for the death as well as oneself, depending on how much time has passed and whether any closure has been made from the situation.
Many people need therapy after a wrongful death as it can be hard to recover from the tragedy and move forward with life. It is also important that families seek justice for their loved ones by filing a wrongful death lawsuit, especially when legal action may help prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
This is where wrongful death attorneys come into play; these lawyers specialize in representing families who have lost someone due to negligence or a wrongful act and are able to provide them with the support they need during this difficult time while helping them receive compensation for any damages incurred due of their loss.
How to Know if You Need a Wrongful Death Attorney
Knowing if you need to hire a wrongful death attorney can be difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the legal process. It is important to know the signs that could indicate your loved one was wrongfully killed so that you can pursue justice and receive compensation for any damages incurred due to their passing away from it.
There are certain clues that may suggest your family member died due to another’s negligence or wrongful act such as:
- A sudden accident
- If there was an unexpected event that caused injury or death then this could point toward a potential case of wrongful death.
- Unexplained medical problems
- If there are no clear answers as to why someone became ill and passed away then this might suggest they were wrongfully treated by medical professionals leading up until his/her passing away from it.
- Unsafe working conditions
- When employers fail in providing their employees with safe working environments, accidents may occur resulting in serious injury or even fatalities. In these cases, legal action might be taken against them for negligence causing wrongful death.
- Police investigations
- When police investigate an incident related to a person’s untimely demise, it could signify something went terribly wrong and led up to his/her dying from it.
- Insurance claims
- If an insurance company denies a claim or refuses to pay out, it could be a sign that something was amiss leading up to his/her passing away from it.
If there are signs your loved one may have been wrongfully killed, then hiring an experienced wrongful death attorney is the best course of action. These attorneys specialize in representing families who have lost someone due to medical malpractice, car accidents caused by reckless driving, work-related incidents caused by employer negligence—and more.
A wrongful death attorney will do the following:
- Investigate the case
- They will look into all of the evidence available and gather information from witnesses to determine what happened leading up to his/her passing away from it.
- Represent you in court
- If necessary, they can file a lawsuit on your behalf against those responsible for their wrongful death in order to seek justice and receive compensation.
- File paperwork & negotiate settlements
- They can handle any legal proceedings related to the case such as filing paperwork or negotiating settlements with insurance companies or other parties involved.
- Provide emotional support
- Wrongful deaths are emotionally draining experiences so having someone there who understands what you’re going through is invaluable during this time; experienced attorneys have seen these types of cases before and know how best to help families get through them.
- Offer guidance & advice
- It can be difficult to navigate the legal system when you’re grieving so having an experienced attorney by your side is essential for anyone looking to seek justice in these types of cases.
This help during a court case is absolutely invaluable, and if you feel like you have a case you should hire an attorney.
Getting the Help You Need Most
It is important that you hire a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after the passing away from it of your loved one since there are usually time limits on how long someone has to file a lawsuit. An experienced lawyer will know what needs to be done and can help ensure that all necessary paperwork is filed in a timely manner so that families receive the compensation they deserve from those responsible for their loss.