Sometimes death happens for seemingly no reason at all; at other times, the fault lies with someone’s misconduct or negligence. In the case of a truly accidental death, the attorneys at Litster Frost can help you determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit against a manufacturer, medical professional or other individual who may have caused or contributed to the death of your loved one.
Who is at Fault?
- Fatal Medical Mistakes – Doctors are human. They make mistakes. However, they are professionals with hours of training, and are responsible for monitoring the health conditions of their patients. This includes knowing the risks of medication and making certain they do not misdiagnose, delay or improperly treat illness, fail to administer medication when necessary, or fail to provide post-treatment care. If you suspect negligence from your loved ones’ medical team, see legal advice from a reliable wrongful death attorney.
- Vehicular Homicide – Other drivers may to blame for the accident that took your loved one. Speeding, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving or distracted driving are considered negligent actions and place the at-fault driver in a position of responsibility. Your attorney can help you determine if the driver of the vehicle that caused death should be held liable in a monetary lawsuit.
- Fatal Product Defects – Consumers in America expect the products they purchase to be unlikely to cause bodily harm when used as intended. However, safeguards set in place by government oversight and regulations are often imperfect, resulting in defective and potentially dangerous items reaching unsuspecting consumers. These products can include automobiles whose brakes fail; medical devices that do not perform well; and household chemicals that become deadly. If you know of someone who died as the result of a faulty product, chances are good that pursuing legal action can bring some justice to the death. Not only will the manufacturer be forces to make changes and hopefully prevent more fatalities, the family of the deceased can have some financial relief in their time of loss.
- Fatal Prescription Errors – Pharmaceutical companies make mistakes too. However, because of the importance and chemical potency of prescription medications, there is little room for error. Both the manufacturer and the pharmacy are fully responsible for any error on their part. If their mistake causes cardiac arrest, internal bleeding, brain trauma, poisoning, or disruption of normal bodily functions resulting in death, the families of the victim may be entitled to financial compensation for their loss.
- Workplace Accidents – Despite the risks, a person’s workplace should be safe. If your loved one dies from company negligence, employers may be held legally liable for wrongful death. For example, if they hire unqualified workers, fail to provide adequate safety equipment, fail to maintain machinery, or do not provide adequate training, someone could die.
Suing for an Accidental Death
If you suspect any of these scenarios surrounding the death of a family member or someone you know, call Litster Frost today to discuss your legal rights and options.
