Common Wrongful Death Causes

The death of a loved one can be devastating, especially when it comes as the result of someone's negligence. Most people are unprepared for the sudden loss of a member of their family, and the death may cause much more than emotional pain. Too often, families must also endure financial hardships – medical expenses, hospital bills, funeral costs, lost wages – that can accompany serious injuries and accidental deaths. The economic burden may be so great that families have no alternative but to declare bankruptcy. When an individual's death is caused by the negligence of another, wrongful death laws provide a victim's family with the means to recover the financial losses associated with the death.

There are many causes of wrongful death. In most instances, any form of personal injury can result in the death of the victim. While car and SUV accidents are the most common cause of wrongful death claims, other causes include:

Construction Accidents

Construction work can be highly dangerous. Workers often utilize heavy equipment and potentially dangerous tools and materials, or they may be required to work at great heights. In light of the hazards that construction work can present, employers are responsible for ensuring that sites are reasonably safe for workers. While most construction accidents result in relatively minor bruises, lacerations, or broken bones, serious accidents can produce more catastrophic harm, such as spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injury, which can lead to permanent impairment and even death. When an injury or death is caused by the negligence of a co-worker or employer, a victim or his family has the right to pursue compensation for losses associated with the accident.

Bus Accidents

Like any motor vehicle, buses can be potentially dangerous for riders and other motorists. Many city, school, and tour bus drivers are forced to work long hours, and their vehicles are often lacking such basic safety features as seat belts. If you or loved one has been injured or killed in a bus accident, you should contact a car accident attorney immediately to make sure that your rights are protected.

Boating Accidents

Boaters must conform with many of the same rules that apply to drivers on the nation's roads and highways. Unfortunately, boaters often fail to follow basic safety guidelines. As a result, many boating accidents are caused by speeding, performing reckless maneuvers, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Toxic Exposure

Toxic exposure is a type of workplace accident, often associated with work in the oil, gas, and chemical industries. Individuals exposed to toxic substances can develop serious illnesses and diseases, suffer hearing loss and blindness, or develop terminal cancers such as mesothelioma. Often, the symptoms of toxic exposure take many years to appear, and victims may have advanced beyond successful treatment before they even know they are sick. Employers have a duty to ensure their workers' reasonable safety. When appropriate safeguards are not implemented and precautions ignored, employers may be held liable for any harm to their employees resulting from their negligence, including devastating illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful death laws are complex and vary from state to state. Claimants often have a limited amount of time within which they are permitted to seek compensation for damages related to their loss. If you have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one, you need to obtain representation by an experienced attorney to ensure your rights are protected. A wrongful death lawyer can fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.