Losing a spouse, child, parent, or any loved one is always a difficult experience for individuals to handle. These unfortunate instances are even more painful and heartbreaking when the death was caused by someone’s negligence or intentional behaviors. While nothing can fill the void that is created by the death of a loved one, filing a wrongful death lawsuit is an option to help ease financial burdens that were created and obtain some type of legal justice.
A wrongful death case is a civil action that a family member or personal representative of the deceased individual’s estate can take to the court system, and these types of cases sometimes occur following a criminal trial. Wrongful death cases typically involve much of the same evidence that is used for the criminal trial, but civil actions require a lower standard of proof in order to find someone negligent.
One of the most notorious instances of this involved O.J. Simpson. In 1994, Simpson was found not guilty for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman because the prosecution failed to prove his guilt of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. However, Simpson later faced a civil wrongful death suit brought by the families of the victims. The evidence presented in the criminal case was not strong enough to secure a murder conviction, but it was sufficient to hold him liable for wrongful death.
Accidents that result in fatal injuries are continuously occurring, which means that wrongful death claims can arise from many different situations. From a child choking on a toy that broke to an adult dying after eating contaminated food, wrongful death claims can be filed for an array of instances where death resulted from someone else’s negligence or intentional behavior.
However, while the possibilities are endless, there are several causes of wrongful death claims that are commonly seen within the legal system. A few examples include:
No two wrongful death lawsuits are exactly the same, but many of the same types of damages are experienced by family members and loved ones after they lose someone tragically. Some of the potential damages in a wrongful death claim include:
If you have lost a family member or loved one and believe you have a wrongful death case, Ross Feller Casey is here to help. Recognized as the leading catastrophic injury law firm throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, our team of exceptional attorneys has a proven track record of legal successes, recovering over $600 million for clients over the last three years alone. Contact Ross Feller Casey today for a free evaluation of your case.
Disclaimer: Ross Feller Casey, LLP provides legal advice only after an attorney-client relationship is formed. Our website is an introduction to the firm and does not create a relationship between our attorneys and clients. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after a written agreement is signed by the client and the firm. Because every case is unique, the description of awards and summary of cases successfully handled are not intended to imply or guarantee that same success in other cases. Ross Feller Casey, LLP represents catastrophically injured persons and their families in injury and wrongful death cases, providing legal representation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.