What is a wrongful death? And how do they happen?

A death in the family is always an unexpected loss. But when that loved one was taken from you in sudden and even avoidable circumstances, it can make the wounds of grief just a little bit deeper. When a wrongful death occurs, it’s not just the emotional fallout that a family has to deal with but the financial side of things too, as well as looking after any dependents and even the possibility of seeking justice on behalf of their loved one. You can speak with a wrongful death lawyer (Alexandria) if your loved ones’ death could have been prevented or avoided. 

Here we’ll explore how an unexpected and wrongful death can impact the loved ones left behind and the most common wrongful death scenarios. 

Medical malpractice

When a loved one goes into hospital for a routine operation, and it goes wrong, or they’re undergoing a specific treatment, and it was incorrect, or they’ve been trying for months to get the right diagnosis only for it to be too late and your loved one has passed away, it can be incredibly difficult to comprehend. 

Doctors and hospital staff are supposed to help preserve life, and we trust them to do the right thing. Of course, things sometimes go wrong, but when those mistakes cause unnecessary stress, pain, and discomfort, followed by an avoidable death, that’s when a wrongful death has occurred. 

A car accident

Car accident
Image by Rhonda Jenkins from Pixabay

Sadly, car accidents are a frequent occurrence, with thousands of crashes occurring every year on our roads. Thankfully, most victims walk away with minor injuries, but when a distracted or dangerous driver kills your loved one, it has a devastating impact on those left behind. Negligent behavior is often the cause of road accidents, from drunk driving to fatigued drivers, reckless actions, speeding, and even road rage. 

When your loved one suffers a fatality due to the reckless actions of another driver, then it’s likely they suffered immense pain before they passed away, and that’s another difficult factor for families to come to terms with. A car-related death is usually grounds for a wrongful death case. 

A workplace accident

When you wave your partner or family member off on a morning, you’ve discussed what they have to do today and what you might have for dinner later. You never imagine that could be the last time you see them. A workplace accident is more common in certain industries such as construction and emergency services; however, anyone can become injured or inadvertently killed. Workplace fatalities don’t always mean catastrophic injuries or shocking accidents. They can also develop over several years. 

If your loved one developed cancer due to handling toxic chemicals throughout their career, then that may also be considered a wrongful death scenario.  

Final thoughts…

If your loved one was unlawfully killed or you believe their death could have been avoided, then reach out to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. 

Featured Photo by Pixabay from Pexels