Anna Maria Richards
Wrongful death is the killing of a human being due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person. If you lose a family member due to another person’s wrongful, negligent act, you could qualify for damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
So how do you find a person liable for wrongful death? First, there must be some kind of relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant. If there is, that relationship might have been created by contract or by statute. Secondly, the culprit must be found legally liable for breaching this duty of care by failing or refusing to act with reasonable care. Lastly, the breach must have directly caused the injuries that resulted in death.
Following are the six types of wrongful death cases in California.
Car Accidents
In 2019, more than 3,500 people lost their lives in car accidents in the State of California, and countless more were injured, facing a long road to full recovery. In addition, drivers, passengers and families are left struggling with huge medical bills they can barely afford.
Following are the major causes behind car accidents in California;
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Construction activity
- Road defects
- Auto defects
- Drunk driving
Truck Accidents
Trucks are big, so when they hit smaller vehicles, the people in the smaller vehicles are more likely to undergo serious injuries or death. Every year, 113 fatal crashes occur from truck accidents in California.
Following are the major causes behind truck accidents in California;
- Reckless driving
- Intoxicated driving
- Driver’s negligence
- Driving during adverse conditions
- Mechanical defects
- Overweight load
- Truck company negligence
Motorcycle Accidents
Typically, accidents involving motorcycles are caused by a failure to take notice of them. This can easily be eliminated by simply checking for motorcycles before changing lanes. Motorcycle riders involved in accidents could be left suffering for relatively worse injuries than car or truck drivers
Following are the major causes behind truck accidents in California;
- Unsafe lane changing
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Intoxicated driving
- Lane splitting
- Sudden stops
- Careless left turns
- Dangerous road conditions
- Dangerous weather conditions
Medical Malpractice
Lucky for you, most doctors and nurses are well-trained professionals who do a good job. But every once in a while, something goes wrong, and just because the person making a mistake is a doctor or nurse doesn’t mean that it’s not prone to negligence or accident.
Following are some of the primary ways a malpractice case can occur;
- Wrong diagnosis
- Birth injury
- Delayed and improper treatment
- Pharmaceutical errors
- Lack of informed consent
- Surgical errors
- Defective medical devices
Defective Products
Most companies do their best to make sure their product is safe for the public. However, when a company does fail to produce safe products, it should be held responsible.
Following are the major causes behind truck accidents in California;
- Toxic food products or inadequate packaging
- Bad or expired pharmaceutical products
- Defective vehicles
- Dangerous childcare products and toys
Workplace accidents
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers provide safe working conditions for their employees.
Following are the major causes behind truck accidents in California;
- Manufacturing accidents
- Repetitive motion and strain injuries
- Transport industry accidents
- Asbestos and Mesothelioma
- Railroad worker injuries
- Mining accidents
When someone is fatally injured on the job or when a worker dies due to occupational disease, their family may be entitled to death benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation system.
