How do I know if I need a wrongful death lawyer?
You need a wrongful death lawyer if someone close to you died as the result of someone else’s negligent or reckless actions. Unfortunately, there are many different situations and scenarios where innocent people’s lives are lost even though malice was not intended towards them. Even with no malice, if someone’s life was ended shortly because of something that someone else did or did not do, it may be cause for a wrongful death civil lawsuit.
Cohen & Cohen has been defending people’s personal injury and wrongful death claims for over 30 years. Our dedicated staff believes in working hard for their clients legal rights so that our clients do not have to. If you are grieving over the untimely death of a loved one, we hope that when we do our job well it will allow you and your family the time and space you need to grieve over your loss and to try to heal. An unexpected death is never easy for the surviving family and friends to deal with but the grief and frustration can increase exponentially when people are confronted with the idea that their loved one’s death could have been prevented. If you are facing this horrible possibility yourself, Cohen & Cohen may be able to help you. We are available to get the details of your situation and to give you a free case evaluation.
Typically, if someone was killed because of someone else’s malicious behavior such as a physical attack that was meant to cause harm, or where regardless of the intent, the victim was unconscious or unable to fight back during the attack, it is considered a criminal act. A family of a victim of a criminal act, can seek compensation from the plaintiff regardless of the outcome of his or her criminal case. The criminal and civil claims are two separate actions that are not supposed to influence the outcomes for each other even though similar evidence and testimonies may be used in both cases.
Common Wrongful Death Claims
There are many different wrongful death claims that are not mentioned here. To determine whether your situation warrants the need of a wrongful death lawyer, a lawyer who is licensed to practice in the state where the death occurred is who can give you an evaluation about whether or not you have a claim that you may be entitled to compensation for.
Medical Malpractice If a physician or other healthcare practitioner is negligent in their treatment
of their patient, or if a medical facility such as a hospital is negligent in their care for a patient, it
may be considered medical malpractice.
Auto Accidents If someone dies because of another driver’s negligent or careless behavior they
may be liable for the victim’s death. Someone who is driving while under the influence (DUI) or
while intoxicated (DWI) and gets into an accident and kills someone, is often found guilty in
wrongful death lawsuits.
Product Liability When people are injured or die because of a faulty or malfunctioning product or
goods, they may be able to seek compensation for their injuries. In the event of a death, a family
may be able to get compensation on behalf of the deceased.
The laws that govern wrongful death and personal injury claims differ from state to state. If you are in need of an experienced wrongful death lawyer, contact Cohen & Cohen, today.