Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Lawsuits
By Meyerkord & Meyerkord
Jun. 28, 2011 3:26p
When an individual dies because of negligence or by the willful intent of another, the family or beneficiaries may file a "wrongful death lawsuit." If one is to sue for wrongful death, proof must be given that the death was an actual result of actions or omissions of the person or persons responsible for the death. In other words, the defendant's actions or negligence must have created the series of events which brought about the person's death.
Types of Wrongful Death
Medically-related wrongful deaths are more common than one would think and the causes are numerous. Wrongful deaths in the medical field can result from misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose a disease or condition or medical and surgical errors.
Other types of wrongful death include car accidents, product malfunction, negligence like not placing a fence around a swimming pool and causing someone to drown, defective products (this can include dangerous drugs) or work-related accidents.
When an employer fails to protect his workers properly, accidents or death can occur resulting in a wrongful death lawsuit. Sometimes a wrongful work-related death can arise directly from an accident or longer term exposure to toxins like pesticides, asbestos or other harmful chemicals.
The Benefits of a Wrongful Death Suit
Statutes or laws were originally created in this area to provide financial support for the surviving family of the deceased and to motivate people to take the necessary precautions to prevent injuries and accidents. A wrongful death lawsuit is a separate action in itself apart from criminal charges.
For example, if a person was assaulted and killed in a robbery and the offender was charged with assault but acquitted of the crime in the courts, you could separately file a wrongful death lawsuit and win compensation. Financial compensation can also relieve financial stress that you may be plagued with resulting from the death. The person who died may have been a financial supporter of the family and this income will no longer be there but can be compensated through the lawsuit.
Legal Help is Available
If you have a family member in the St. Louis area who has suffered a wrongful death, or even if you suspect it, but are not quite sure, you should contact a St. Louis personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Don't wait too long as valuable evidence to support the case can get lost or misplaced.
Even though financial compensation can never replace the person you've lost, you owe it to yourself to seek compensation and justice for the wrongdoing. At Meyerkord & Meyerkord, we have successfully been representing clients in personal injury cases for years including wrongful death. We like to work intimately with our clients and prefer to take a personal approach. We are compassionate and caring yet aggressive, and will fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact a St. Louis wrongful death attorney in our office for a free consultation today.