If your loved one has passed away due to the negligent or intentional actions of another person, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the person responsible for the death. An attorney can file a lawsuit seeking monetary compensation for the loss of your loved one. Here are the three types of wrongful death claims that your attorney can help you with.
Accident Involving Negligence
If your loved one was killed in an accident that was not their fault, and the person responsible for the death was acting in a negligent manner at the time of the accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. When it comes to accidents involving negligence, you'll need to gather as much information pertaining to the accident as you can. This will include medical reports, accident reports filed by the police department, and witness statements. These documents will help your attorney provide you with the proper representation.
Medical Malpractice
If your loved one was under the care of a physician at the time of their death, and you believe the care they received contributed to their death, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Health care providers owe a duty of care to their patients. When they fail to provide that standard of care, and a death occurs, they may be guilty of medical malpractice. You'll need to gather your loved one's medical records and provide them to your attorney. If possible, you should also request that an autopsy be performed. The autopsy will help identify any possible errors that contributed to the death of your loved one.
Intentional Death
If your loved one died at the hands of another, and those actions were intentional, you may be able to sue the responsible party for wrongful death. It's important to note that a wrongful death claim may be brought against the person whether they have or have not been found guilty of a crime in a criminal court. This is what occurred in the death of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. OJ Simpson was found not guilty of murder in a court of law. However, when the families sued him for wrongful death, he was found legally responsible for both deaths.
If your loved one has died as the result of someone else's actions, you need to sit down with a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. For more information, contact a company like Sarkisian, Sarkisian & Associates PC.
Share2 May 2016
When I sued a product manufacturer after a disfiguring accident, I never expected to actually go to court. I assumed that the case would eventually be settled, like most personal injury cases are. To my surprise, they wouldn't budge, and we ended up having to go all the way to court. I was pretty nervous about testifying, but I had a great attorney that prepared me well, and everything went smoothly. In the end, the jury saw things my way. I realized that I probably wasn't the only person to ever experience an unexpected day in court, and that's how I got the idea to start this blog. If you're looking for tips to help you prepare or wondering what to expect when you go to court for a lawsuit, this blog contains important information for you.
