common causes of wrongful death

A wrongful death lawsuit allows the surviving family to enforce the victim’s rights to damages caused by another’s wrongful act, neglect, or default.

Wrongful death causes include intentional, careless, negligent, or reckless behavior perpetrated by an individual or corporation.

While wrongful death lawsuits can be complex, an attorney at Cottrell Law Office will guide your family through your options for closure and relief. 

What Are the Most Common Wrongful Death Causes? 

A wrongful death case requires the responsible party to have had some duty to keep the injured person safe.

For example, Arkansas law requires drivers “to keep a proper lookout for other traffic” and obey the rules of the road.

This describes the duty a driver has to others. Depending on the circumstances, all sorts of parties owe a duty to others.

Consider these common causes of wrongful death lawsuits and sources of responsibility.

Car Accidents

In 2020, Arkansas crashes resulted in 3,385 fatalities and serious injuries.

Collisions also impact pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, which accounted for 13.6% of crashes with fatalities or serious injuries between 2015 and 2019.

A car accident can have a sudden and unexpected financial and emotional impact on a family.

Medical Negligence

When you undergo a medical procedure, you trust the doctor to act according to their professional code.

The most common complaint for adult patients in emergency departments and urgent care settings is an error in diagnosis.

An error in diagnosis means failure to order tests, inadequate medical history and physical examination, incorrect interpretation of tests, or failure to request a consultation.

Defective Products

U.S. companies spent millions of dollars on product liability insurance.

When a company knows the danger of a defect in its product, it must warn the consumer.

Common defective products include motor vehicle parts, children’s toys, medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs, household appliances, and cleaning products. 

Workplace Accidents

Workers’ compensation insurance pays for a family’s loss and covers an employer’s responsibility for someone’s death stemming from work.

Still, a family could sue a third party for wrongful death if that party is responsible for manufacturing or maintaining workplace equipment.

This could include industrial equipment, machinery, cleaning products, or safety equipment.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Claims

An estimated one in six elders in the community experienced abuse in the past year.

Financial abuse is the most common, but psychological, physical, and sexual abuse also occur.

When abuse results in the death of a loved one, the surviving family can hold that party responsible through a wrongful death suit.

Cottrell Law Office: Northwest Arkansas Wrongful Death Attorney

Although the circumstances above are the common causes of wrongful death lawsuits, every family deserves justice and relief.

An Arkansas wrongful death lawsuit is meant to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligent, reckless, or careless actions.

At the Cottrell Law Office, our attorneys have been fighting for injured Arkansas families for over 30 years at the Cottrell Law Office.

We achieve results through zealous legal representation, top-quality service, and personal attention and communication.

We value the relationships with our clients and will work with you to ensure justice and compensation for your family. Contact us today.

Author Photo

Wesley Cottrell

Wes Cottrell earned his B.A. from Pittsburg State University in 1981 and his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas in 1985. He was admitted to practice law in Kansas in 1986, in Missouri in 1987, in Arkansas in 1989, and Oklahoma in 1993. He is licensed to practice law in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, eastern Arkansas, western Arkansas, and western Missouri. He was Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Crawford County, Kansas from 1987-1989.

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