When a party is negligent in the course of duty or performs an action that intentionally takes the life of another individual, it qualifies as a wrongful death. For the loved ones of the victim, the death usually takes a negative emotional toll that changes their lives.
While no lawsuit can provide compensation that equals the value of life, it can help in lessening the financial burden on the family left behind. It also helps the family feel some sense of closure since justice would have been served. In California, spouses, domestic partners, children, siblings, and financial dependents can file a wrongful death claim.
Wrongful death claims compensate the surviving family based on a financial and non-economic loss like loss of companionship. You can click here to find out more about compensations awarded for wrongful death claims. The most common cases of wrongful death claims are outlined below.
Car Accidents
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a report stating that there were more than 3,300 fatal car accidents in California in 2019. The state is second behind Texas in the number of deaths resulting from car accidents annually. That’s why car accidents remain one of the leading causes of wrongful death claims filed in the state.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Since California has a high number of highways, the state experiences a lot of truck accidents. Commercial truck drivers and companies need to properly maintain these trucks to make certain they’re safe for the road.
It’s also crucial for the drivers to get well-rested so they can place maximum focus on the road. Commercial truck accidents are usually fatal because the vehicles are bigger. If a passenger vehicle is involved, then the fatalities increase because of the car’s smaller size.
Product Liability
There are variations of cases that can be filed in California resulting from product liability. Although many cases are filed under personal injury law, others are wrongful death claims.
The products that cause wrongful death claims are those that contain harmful chemicals. One common product that results in death is asbestos which can trigger mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a condition that results from long exposure to asbestos.
Accidents on the Job
Some accidents occur during a job that can lead to the death of a worker. Almost 5,000 workers died in job-related incidents in 2020. Transportation incidents were the leading cause of deaths on the job, taking up more than one-third of work-related deaths. Slips and falls were the second highest cause of death on the job.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice happens when a medical practitioner gives a substandard level of care to a patient which results in injury to the patient. Usually, medical malpractice results from failing to accurately diagnose a medical condition that leads to death.
Other examples of medical malpractice include surgical errors or prescribing the wrong medication.
