No experience can match the emotional trauma of losing a loved one. The tragedy can be particularly hard to accept when the event happened due to another person’s negligence. This is where an accident lawyer may be able to help.
You may have a legitimate claim of wrongful death if someone’s negligent, reckless or careless actions killed your loved one. Car accidents contribute to more wrongful deaths than any other cause, but these lawsuits can also arise from medication errors, defective products and other sources.
The loss of a loved one can put a family into crippling debt. Fortunately, a civil lawsuit may be able to provide some financial relief.
If your loved one died due to another person’s negligence in New York, then contact an injury attorney from Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP. We can gather evidence, structure your claim, handle settlement negotiations and litigate your case if it goes to trial. To schedule a consultation, call us today at 917-730-7151.
Until then, read on to learn six common causes of wrongful death:
- Car Accidents
Every year, 40,000 people die on American roads. Liable drivers often have to deal with lawsuits.
Family members of victims can claim damages from whoever is responsible for the accident. This is often the driver, but it can also be vehicle manufacturers, companies using commercial trucks, roadway government agencies or employers.
- Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice kills thousands of Americans each year. When doctors, nurses and other medical professionals act negligently, then patients can die or suffer long-term complications. Medical malpractice can include:
- Surgical mistakes;
- Birth injuries;
- Medication errors;
- Late diagnoses;
- Wrong diagnosis;
- And anesthetic mistakes.
- Workplace Accidents
Preventable accidents in the workplace account for a staggering number of wrongful deaths. People who work in high-risk industries, such as construction or extraction, are exposed to heavy machinery, toxic chemicals, burns, explosions, electrocutions, falls and other hazards.
- Crime
Criminals often kill people while committing an offense to avoid being arrested. Sometimes, criminals kill one another for a variety of reasons. The responsible person will likely face criminal charges from the district attorney, but even if he or she faces criminal charges, the victim’s family can file a civil lawsuit for their loved one’s death.
- Defective Products
Unfortunately, even with strict laws governing consumer safety, many people die because of defective products every year. Designers, manufacturers, retailers and distributors can be liable for any dangerous products that enter the market. Even a tiny defect can make a product unsafe for use, whether it occurred during the development, manufacturing or design phase.
- Truck Collisions
Because of their sheer weight and size, trucks are responsible for many wrongful deaths. There are several causes of these accidents, including improper loading, ignoring weight limits, foregoing sleep and not following protocol.
If your loved one’s wrongful death occurred because of another person’s negligence, then you may be entitled to damages, including loss of inheritance, loss of companionship, loss of income and medical expenses. Call Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP at 917-730-7151 to discuss your circumstances with a New York City injury attorney.