Common Causes of Wrongful Death and How to Prevent Them

Losing a loved one is always a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances that caused their death. However, if your loved one died as a direct result of another person’s carelessness, your grief may be compounded even further. There are countless different ways a person may be killed because of negligence, but as wrongful death attorneys, the Palmer Law Group team has seen that some causes of wrongful death are more common than others. Here’s a look at common causes of wrongful death and how to prevent them.

Car Accidents

Drunk driving accidents and other car accidents lead to a disproportionately high number of both personal injury and wrongful death cases. Cars are a part of daily life, so it’s easy to forget just how deadly they can be.

Preventing Fatal Car Accidents

Drivers should always be careful to remain alert and focused on the road. Distracted driving (and especially texting while driving) causes countless deaths per year. Drivers should also never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  If there’s any doubt as to whether it’s safe to drive, you should call a rideshare or ride with someone else.

Work Injuries

Some Workplaces Are More Dangerous Than Others

In high-risk industries like construction, employees can sometimes suffer serious injuries without any negligence on their part or on the part of their employer. However, it’s possible for wrongful deaths to happen even in low-risk industries. For example, a taxi driver could be struck and killed by a speeding car.

Preventing Fatal Work Injuries

Business owners and managers have a tremendous responsibility to those they employ. If you own a business, you should make sure you are compliant with all applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Regular workplace safety training can also help reduce the risk of employee injury and death.

Physical Assault

When most people think of wrongful death cases, they imagine deaths due to negligence. However, our firm has also represented families of those who have been killed by intentional violence. If someone dies as a result of a physical assault or a firearm injury, the criminal case against the offender is what makes the news. However, families of the deceased often pursue wrongful death lawsuits to recover compensation for their loved ones’ funeral costs and medical bills.

Preventing Wrongful Death From Physical Assault

Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to predict whether you or your loved one will be the target of intentional violence. The most straightforward way to prevent wrongful death from physical assault and other kinds of deliberate violence is for would-be offenders not to commit violent crimes in the first place.

We hope that by pursuing wrongful death lawsuits against responsible parties, we may be able to deter at least some future violent crimes from happening. If someone knows that they may face a significant financial penalty in addition to prison time, they may think twice before targeting innocent people.

Have you lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or intentional actions? Call Palmer Law Group at (785) 233-1836 to schedule your free consultation.

Product Liability

When you’re buying a new air fryer or a new car, you probably don’t think there’s a possibility that the product you purchase could cause serious injury or death. Fortunately, thanks to product regulations and industry oversight, most products you purchase won’t harm you if used as intended.

However, there are exceptions. For example, if a car comes with defective brakes, a consumer may not discover the problem until they’re driving and realize they can’t stop. Some product defects are severe enough to cause death. If your loved one has been the victim of a product like this, we may be able to help.

Preventing Wrongful Death From Defective Products

Product designers have the obligation to ensure the items they make are safe and free of any dangerous design defects. Likewise, any company or facility that manufactures these products must thoroughly inspect them to verify that the correct materials were used and that the items were assembled according to specifications. Sometimes, defects don’t reveal themselves until a given product is already on the market. In this case, the company has an obligation to recall the product as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is an extremely complex area of law. The fact that someone dies in a medical setting is not necessarily an indicator of malpractice. However, if a medical professional makes an error that most competent professionals would not — and that error results in your loved one’s death  — you may have a case for wrongful death due to medical malpractice.

For example, if your loved one is rushed into emergency surgery with life-threatening injuries, they may not survive even if the surgeon makes no errors. If this happens, you likely would not have a viable wrongful death case. However, if your loved one goes to the emergency room with life-threatening injuries, is sent home by a doctor, and later dies of those injuries, the doctor is likely guilty of medical malpractice and could be sued for wrongful death.

Preventing Wrongful Death by Medical Malpractice

There is always some risk that a medical professional can make an error. However, medical professionals can reduce their chances of causing wrongful death by referring to specialists when needed and delivering the best possible care to each patient they see.

Have You Lost a Loved One to Someone Else’s Negligence?

Let Us Help You Seek Justice

Unfortunately, even if you do everything right, there’s still a chance you can be severely injured — or even killed — by a negligent person or organization. We understand that there’s no amount of money that can bring your loved one back or make up for their loss. However, a wrongful death claim may help you recover the compensation you need to cover your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses and support yourself as you grieve.

If you’ve lost a loved one, Palmer Law Group may be able to help you hold the responsible parties accountable and seek justice for your loved one. Give us a call at (785) 233-1836 for a free consultation.