19 Feb 2024

Personal Injury
In the unfortunate event of losing a loved one to someone else's negligent actions, understanding the different ways wrongful death can occur is critical. This insight can help grieving families navigate the complexities of seeking justice through wrongful death claims. These claims can hold the party at fault accountable while also providing the family with compensation for the irreplaceable loss they have suffered. When you’re grieving, you shouldn’t have to worry about the financial consequences of the loss as well, which happens if your loved one was a provider for your family. If you and your family have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one, don’t go through these trying times alone. With the help of the wrongful death attorneys at Lermitte & Lubin, LLC, we can get you the justice your family needs and deserves.

#1. Car Accidents: A Leading Cause of Wrongful Death

Despite advancements in vehicle safety, car accidents remain a leading cause of death. These accidents always have a cause, whether it be someone causing the accident through their driving decisions or a manufacturer building the car with flaws. Understanding the source, the statistical prevalence, and ways to prevent these accidents can be crucial in determining who was responsible for the death of your family member.

Causes of Fatal Car Crashes

Common reasons why fatal car accidents occur include driver negligence, which can take the form of:
  • Reckless driving
  • Speeding
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Distracted driving, which includes texting, eating, or using a navigation system while behind the wheel

Statistics and Prevalence

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 19,515 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first half of 2023 alone. The vast majority of these accidents were caused by preventable factors, which makes seeking legal help imperative for affected families.

Prevention Is Key

Preventative measures, including obeying traffic laws, avoiding distractions, and regular vehicle maintenance, are critical in reducing the risk of car accidents. When someone doesn’t do this, they are responsible for the accidents they cause. Understanding these precautions can potentially save lives.

#2. Medical Malpractice: When Healthcare Goes Wrong

Trusting a health professional with the well-being of a loved one only for it to result in their wrongful death is a devastating breach of trust. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care, leading to the suffering or death of a patient. This does not include times when doctors fail to preserve someone’s life due to factors beyond their control. There are instances where medicine can only do so much. Wrongful death, in this instance, must be where a mistake or decision caused someone’s death, rather than an inability to prevent or treat a fatal wound or condition.

Understanding Negligence in Healthcare

Negligence can take various forms, including:
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Errors in treatment
  • Inadequate aftercare
Proving negligence in medical malpractice cases is complex but crucial for obtaining compensation.

#3. Workplace Accidents: The Dangers of the Job

Wrongful deaths in the workplace are particularly devastating because they’re unexpected. When someone is in an environment they expect to be safe, no one thinks that they may not come home at the end of the day. Worksites can be filled with hazards that, when not properly managed, can lead to fatalities. At the same time, some regulations and standards must be met to even allow work to be done, so that means your loved one entered an environment that they were told was safe when it wasn’t.

Industrial Hazards

Industrial settings, with their complex machinery and high-stakes processes, present clear risks. Accidents involving assembly-line machinery, forklifts, and conveyor belts are but a few examples. If your loved one died due to a setting such as this, it’s typically their employer who is responsible.

Construction Site Dangers

The same can be said for deaths on a construction site. The construction industry is one of the most dangerous, with accidents such as falls, equipment malfunctions, and electrocutions often resulting in death.

Occupational Hazards in Nonspecialized Work

It's important to recognize that less specific occupations also carry risks. Poor workplace safety procedures or training can lead to a preventable accident that results in wrongful death.

#4. Product Liability: Defective Goods and Dire Consequences

Consumers put their trust in the market's goods, expecting them to be safe and properly maintained. Unfortunately, when a product is defective and leads to a loss of life, it constitutes a wrongful death due to product liability. Products that cause harm can be flawed in their design, manufacturing, instructions, and/or warnings. Identifying these flaws can be key in establishing a wrongful death claim.

Holding Manufacturers Accountable

Manufacturers must be held accountable for producing items that cause harm. Legal support from the attorneys at Lermitte & Lubin, LLC can help families navigate the process of holding the responsible party liable for their lost loved one. Legal action in the wake of a wrongful death can provide justice and financial support to the grieving family. Understanding one's rights is pivotal in this process.

#5. Premises Liability: Risks in Public and Private Spaces

Accidents and fatalities that occur on another person's property due to unsafe conditions, likely caused by negligence, fall under the realm of premises liability. It's important to be aware of the risks associated with public and private spaces.

Negligent Property Maintenance

Uncleared ice on sidewalks, structural defects, and inadequate security measures are common premises liability issues that can lead to a wrongful death. The important part to understand is when the property is owned by a private individual, a private entity, or a government entity. For example, in Pennsylvania, it’s a homeowner’s responsibility to maintain and fix their sidewalk. Filing against the wrong person cannot only waste time and resources but affect your creditability once you file against the correct party.

Contact Lermitte & Lubin, LLC For Help

When searching for legal representation following a wrongful death, finding a reliable and experienced firm is paramount. Lermitte & Lubin, LLC is dedicated to supporting those affected by wrongful death accidents. With a track record of successful cases and a compassionate approach to client care, we provide the experience and guidance you need to navigate the legal process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

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