There is a wide variety of incidents that can lead to a wrongful death, but they all have something in common. Wrongful deaths are caused by the negligent or intentional actions of someone else, and wrongful deaths give survivors the right to recover damages for their tragic losses.
If your loved one has died because of the negligent or intentional actions of someone else, then it is important to…
- Gather all of the facts and understand exactly how your loved one died.
- Find out if you can bring a wrongful death lawsuit in a Wisconsin court.
- Take action before the statute of limitations expires and prevents your fair recovery.
These steps can be overwhelming and difficult while you are grieving, but you don’t have to take them alone. Instead, you have the right to contact an experienced and empathetic wrongful death lawyer to schedule a free consultation about your rights and to learn more about protecting your potential recovery.
14 Specific Ways a Wrongful Death Can Happen
It is important to consider whether someone’s negligent or intentional actions caused your loved one’s death if your loved one died after a (n):
- Slip and fall accident. Fatalities are not the most common injuries caused by slip or trip and fall accidents, but deaths can occur due to someone else’s negligence and may result in wrongful death claims.
- Accident on someone else’s property. It isn’t only slip and fall accidents that can lead to fatalities on someone else’s property. Swimming pool accidents, electrical fires, and other incidents that lead to fatal injuries may also be the result of property owner negligence.
- Motorcycle accident. Drivers of all vehicles owe a duty of care to everyone with whom they share the road. When a rider dies because of the negligence of another driver then his estate or his family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim.
- Truck accident. Some fatal truck crashes are caused by the negligence of the trucker, some are caused by the negligence of the trucking company, and some occur for other reasons. If anyone’s negligence caused your loved one to die in a truck wreck, then you may be able to recover damages.
- Pedestrian accident. A pedestrian accident can happen anywhere, and pedestrians are at significant risk of death because they lack the protective metal of a motor vehicle. When a pedestrian death is caused by someone else’s negligence then a wrongful death cause of action may exist.
- Bicycle accident. Bicyclists, like pedestrians, lack the protection of a motor vehicle and must share the road with other drivers. When a bicyclist is killed by the negligence of someone else, then his survivors may have a wrongful death claim.
- Drowsy driving accident. Drowsy driving may be as dangerous as drunk driving, but the risk is not as easily recognized and avoided. A drowsy driver who causes a fatal accident may be accountable in a wrongful death lawsuit.
- Distracted driving accident. Any time a driver’s eyes are off the road, hands are off the wheel, or attention is away from driving safely the driver may be distracted and may cause a fatal crash for which the driver is legally accountable.
- Drunk driving accidents. It is illegal to drive while intoxicated in Wisconsin. Yet each year drivers do drive drunk and cause fatal crashes that lead to wrongful death lawsuits.
- Other types of car accidents. While many fatal car crashes are caused by drowsy, drunk, and distracted drivers, they also occur for other reasons. Any time your loved one is killed in a car crash caused by another driver’s negligence it is important to consider a wrongful death claim.
- Dog bites. A dog bite can result in excessive bleeding, an infection, or in another dangerous injury causes the death of the victim.
- Negligent security incidents. When a property owner or manager fails to provide reasonable security on his property and a person is killed in an attack, an assault, or other incident, then the property owner or manager may be legally responsible for the death.
- Pharmaceutical injury. Prescription drugs and medical devices can cause wrongful deaths if the pharmaceutical company was negligent in the design, manufacturing, or marketing of the drug or device.
- Nursing home abuse or neglect incident. Nursing homes are supposed to care for people who cannot care for themselves. However, when they are negligent, they can cause wrongful deaths.
If your loved one died in one of these accidents—or in any other incident caused by the negligent or intentional actions of someone else—then you need to do what steps to take next.
What to Do If Your Loved One Has Been Killed in Any of These Wrongful Death Incidents
While the facts leading to a death from a slip and fall or a motor vehicle accident are very different, the actions that you can take to protect your recovery as a survivor are the same. Specifically, you may be able to file a wrongful death case and to pursue a fair recovery in a settlement or court verdict. Often, this requires filing a complaint in state court, gathering evidence through legal discovery, and making persuasive arguments to the insurance company or court that convince the insurance adjuster, judge, or jury that you deserve a settlement or legal recovery.
Your sadness can not be measured and your future has been forever changed. While we can’t undo what has happened or bring your loved one back, we can help you protect your future. We can take some of the worry from you by making sure that all of your legal rights are protected. Please contact us via this website or by phone any time—any day of the year—to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation so that you can make an informed decision that is right for you and your family.