What Is a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

Wrongful death lawsuits are cases brought forward by a family member of a person who died as a result of someone's negligence or intentional harm. These lawsuits seek to bring restitution to the survivors of the victim and to bring justice to the person or people responsible for the actions that led to wrongful death. Some lawyers specialize in this area of law and can help victims' families find some sort of comfort and assistance in the aftermath of a tragedy. Types of wrongful death that can be brought forward in these types of cases include medical malpractice and car accidents.

Medical Malpractice

In some instances, the negligence of a doctor or other healthcare provider may have caused a person to lose his or her life unnecessarily. In these cases, the victim's family members can bring a lawsuit against the individual doctor involved as well as the hospital or clinic the doctor was associated with at the time of the event. It is important that the prosecution is able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the doctor's actions directly or indirectly led to a loss of life that could have been avoided if proper care had been rendered. Although family members may be hesitant to seek legal action at first, a successful case can help prevent similar tragedies happening to other families.

Car Accidents

Car accidents can be brought up in wrongful death suits in two ways. One is that a distracted driver caused an accident by falling asleep at the wheel, texting while driving, or driving under the influence, and that the accident caused the death of an innocent party. On the other hand, a car manufacturer may have a suit brought against them if it can be proven that they neglected to recall defective parts or knew about unsafe equipment and continued manufacturing anyway. Similarly to medical malpractice cases, filing a lawsuit against a car manufacturer with unsafe manufacturing practices can help prevent future accidents.

After the death of a loved one in a devastating event or accident, it may be difficult to look into the future to see any hope. However, seeking recompense for your losses may be necessary for you to support yourself financially after the loss of a family member. If a close relative lost his or her life as a result of someone else's negligence, consult with a wrongful death lawyer, like a wrongful death lawyer in Houston, TX, to decide on the next steps that you should take.

Thanks to John K. Zaid & Associates for their insight into what wrongful death is and how a wrongful death attorney could help with a lawsuit.