In legal terms, wrongful death occurs when someone is killed due to another’s negligence or misconduct. Wrongful death actions are usually civil cases, brought about by a spouse or close loved one.
If you lost a close loved one to wrongful death, a Minneapolis wrongful death lawyer may be able to help. Contact the legal team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (844) 777-4453 to learn more.
Types of Wrongful Death
Many different types of wrongful death may be subject to legal action. All of the following examples are instances where another party may be held liable in a court of law and compensation may be sought.
Vehicle Accidents
You may be able to hold another driver liable if your loved one died due to their negligent actions such as drunk driving, distracted driving, failure to yield, or disobeying another traffic law. If the other vehicle involved in the accident is a commercial or governmental vehicle, other parties may be held liable as well.
If no other vehicle was involved and the accident was due to road construction or a damaged road or another similar hazard, a construction company, private property owner, or even the city, county, or state may be held liable. A parts manufacturer may also be liable if a defective automotive part was responsible for the accident.
Medical Malpractice
A doctor, nurse, other medical professional, hospital, or nursing home may be held liable if your loved one died due to medical negligence. Human error is usually to blame in medical malpractice cases, whether it’s due to an overworked and stressed doctor, a mix-up of test results in the lab, or a nursing home worker distributing incorrect medication.
Product Liability
Wrongful death may also be due to hazardous products. Well-known companies that have been the target of numerous product liability cases include Johnson & Johnson for their talc-based baby powder that is believed to be linked to ovarian cancer, Owens Corning for building materials containing asbestos which is known to cause mesothelioma, and Philip Morris for selling tobacco products that cause lung cancer.
Faulty and defective products can also lead to fatalities. Examples may include a pacemaker or defibrillator that suddenly stops working, a children’s toy that causes choking, and a space heater’s automatic safety shutoff that doesn’t shut off.
Environmental Hazards
Examples of lawsuits that were filed for wrongful death due to environmental hazards include an invisible gas leak in a home, water contamination, toxic mold, lung cancer caused by working around diesel fumes, oil and chemical spills, and building explosions. Liability in these types of cases can range from a manufacturer or corporation to a real estate developer.
Work-Related Injuries
Accidents on the job can sometimes cause death. Many jobs are extremely dangerous and prone to serious injuries and fatalities, including commercial fishermen, loggers, roofers, farmers, and truck drivers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Construction workers in Minnesota are especially at risk, since falls are the main cause of construction fatalities, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and falls are a main cause of death in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics. Besides employers, co-workers and manufacturers of faulty equipment may be held liable in these types of cases, depending on the circumstances.
For a free legal consultation with a wrongful death lawyer serving Minneapolis, call (844) 777-4453
Costs Associated with Wrongful Death
A wrongful death can leave families with many costs, both economic and noneconomic. Besides dealing with the overwhelming grief from losing a loved one, close family members may be dealing with medical bills, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, loss of income, and other associated costs.
Many of these costs may be recoverable when a wrongful death claim is filed. A lawyer can help with this and more. You and your family have already suffered a great loss; you should not have to pay further for costs that resulted due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct.
Minneapolis Wrongful Death Lawyer Near Me (844) 777-4453
How a Lawyer Can Help You with Your Wrongful Death Case
A Minneapolis wrongful death lawyer will fight for your rights, including your right to justice. They will not shy away from a tough case. They will listen to you explain the details of your case and get to work. They will collect evidence by interviewing pertinent witnesses, obtaining copies of any police reports or medical records, and reconstructing the order of events that led to the death.
Once all of the evidence is collected, they will determine liability as well as the dollar amount of compensation you are eligible to receive. They will try to negotiate a settlement, but if one cannot be satisfactorily obtained, we will not be afraid to go to court if necessary.
They will further help you by explaining what you may be able to do to help and by keeping you informed during each step of the litigation process. Most importantly, once you hire a lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that someone is on your side handling all of the important matters as well as the details and loose ends so that you can focus on recovery from your loss and getting your life back in order.
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According to Minnesota Statutes § 573.02, most wrongful death actions must be filed within three years of the date of the death. Awards are exclusively given to the surviving spouse and next of kin.
Do not delay in connecting with a Minneapolis wrongful death lawyer. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 777-4453 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning you do not have to pay anything upfront. We only collect a fee if we get a settlement for you.
Call or text (844) 777-4453 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form