5 Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Over 151,000 people die each day, according to the Ecology Global Network. That is an average of more than 6,290 people each hour. Further studies show that a substantial portion of those statistics is created by wrongful death cases. Losing a loved one in death is difficult enough – especially when you consider the mental and emotional toll this type of tragedy has on the family. It is even more distressing when the death was caused by the negligence, carelessness or fault of someone else.

If your family has recently experienced this type of loss, you can work with an experienced wrongful death attorney in Birmingham, AL to file a lawsuit. Below is an overview of five common types of wrongful death cases filed each year:

Medical Malpractice

Human error affects all people and professions – including the healthcare industry. Even the very best doctor or surgeon is still capable of making fatal mistakes. Studies show that one of the most common types of wrongful death cases are medical malpractice due to procedural errors in the operating room, a failure to diagnose a condition or a misdiagnosis that led to the death of a patient.

Fatal mistakes can also be made when it comes to treatment protocol – such as when writing prescriptions or ordering other forms of treatment that have adverse reactions. If your family has been affected by this type of tragedy, then you should consult with an experienced attorney who can examine the circumstances closely and determine if your family has a case.

Car Accidents

An automobile accident was reported every 200 seconds throughout 2017 in Alabama alone, according to Drive Safe Alabama. The same report shows that the typical Alabama driver has a 33% chance of being involved in an automobile crash that involves injury or death at least once in their lifetime. If your loved one died in this type of fatal accident, you can work with a personal injury or wrongful death attorney in Birmingham to get justice for your loved one.

A common misconception is that the person responsible for the fatal accident is one of the drivers involved. However, that is not always the case – which is why it is imperative for your wrongful death attorney to investigate further and identify the root cause. For instance, poorly maintained roads or defective traffic lights may have caused the accident. In those situations, the liability may rest on the shoulders of the city or county.

Pedestrian Accidents

You do not need to be inside of a vehicle to experience the dangerous effects of a car accident firsthand. Unfortunately, a vast number of pedestrians experience this each year. A March 2018 report ranked Alabama as having the 8^th highest number of pedestrian deaths in 2017. The report showed that nearly 60 people lost their lives in pedestrian accidents during a 6-month period (January-June) the same year. A driver could run a stop light while someone legally uses a crosswalk. A driver could lose control of their vehicle, veer off onto a sidewalk and strike several people in a matter of seconds. There are quite a few grim scenarios that occur each year with thousands of people throughout the country losing their lives as a result. If your loved one died in a pedestrian accident, you can reach out to an experienced attorney in Birmingham, AL who handles wrongful death cases to receive the representation your family needs to seek justice.

Defective Products

Most consumers that inadvertently buy and use defective products are not injured or killed by them. Sadly, this is not the case for all consumers. If your loved one lost his or her life as a result of a defective product, then the manufacturer and/or seller of the product could be held liable for that loss. There are quite a few factors that must be considered to prove this type of negligence, but at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, your attorney will work alongside you and your family to take the steps necessary to do just that. Call our office today.