The unexpected sudden death of a loved one can be a traumatic experience for the surviving family. The situation gets worse when such a death was due to the negligent acts of another person. The entire situation can place you in a state of fear and isolation. At The Reiff Law Firm, we understand the traumatic circumstances surrounding a wrongful death case. We know what it takes to hold the responsible party accountable for your loss. If you lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence, we may be able to help. The Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers at The Reiff Law Firm explain the most common types of wrongful death lawsuits in Pennsylvania.
What is Wrongful Death?
The term “wrongful death” refers to when a person gets killed because of the wrongful actions of another person. It also applies to death caused by the negligent acts and misconduct of another person. For instance, wrongful death can be caused by a reckless driver whose negligent actions lead to the death of another driver in a car accident.
Common Types of Wrongful Death Claims in Pennsylvania
The wrongful death of a loved one can happen for different reasons. Common lawsuits for wrongful death in Pennsylvania include the following:
Work-Related Deaths
Some jobs are indeed riskier than others. Construction work is an example of jobs where employees are at higher risk of experiencing life-threatening injuries. For instance, construction workers are at higher risk of suffering a severe injury due to the nature of their career. Despite the implementation of safety measures to prevent construction injuries, accidents keep happening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falling accidents are the leading cause of construction-related injuries and death. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “an average of two construction workers dies each day in the United States.”
Most work-related accidents that lead to injury or death are preventable. However, the lack of safety measures, proper training, and negligence from employers may lead to unjustifiable deaths that can result in wrongful death actions and lawsuits.
Defective Products
Whenever a person buys a product, he or she expects the product to be safe for use. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, manufacturers rush production or make mistakes in the design which can lead to defects in the product. Additionally, many manufacturers skip the testing phase of a product before launching it to the market.
In many cases, defects in a product lead to personal injury or wrongful death. Manufacturers have the responsibility to make sure their products are safe for consumers. If they do not, they may be liable for any injuries their product may cause. Examples of wrongful death caused by defective products include deaths from defective prescription drugs, vehicle parts, consumer products, and more.
Nursing Home Negligence
When you entrust the safety of your loved ones to a nursing home, you expect they will be treated with dignity and respect. As a matter of fact, you might be led to believe you have no reason to worry about your loved one’s well-being. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes work the same way. Some nursing homes abuse senior citizens by assaulting or neglecting them.
Medical Malpractice
When you go to the doctor, you are trusting they are prepared, knowledgeable, and skilled. In other words, you expect to be treated safely and with care. However, medical negligence happens more often than people realize. A study published online by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) stated that medical errors in the United States cause more than 250,000 deaths every year. This places medical errors as the third leading cause of death in the entire nation. Wrongful death caused by medical mistakes include deaths from misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries and many more types of medical negligence.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents happen every day for numerous reasons. The outcome of a car collision is always unpleasant. However, things are worse when you lose a loved one because of the negligent actions of another driver. Losing a loved one is one of the most painful experiences a person can go through.
Many causes may lead to a car- or truck-related wrongful death. Typical causes of possible wrongful death car accidents include accidents caused by drugged driving, improper vehicle maintenance, reckless driving, and speeding.
The types of wrongful death lawsuits mentioned above do not provide an exhaustive list. However, these causes are some of the most common reasons people decide to file a lawsuit for wrongful death.
Wrongful Death Attorneys Serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Losing a loved one is always hard. However, don’t let that stop you from holding the wrongdoers accountable for their negligence. If you wish to learn more about your potential case in a free, confidential consultation, call our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at The Reiff Law Firm today at (215) 709-6940.