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Denver Personal Injury Attorney Explains the Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death

Mark A. Simon June 7, 2017

Wrongful death claims are civil lawsuits that are filed by the family members of a person who has been killed by another person’s negligence. Unfortunately, many people choose to act recklessly, which means these cases are far too common. Why are there so many wrongful deaths? Here are some of the most common causes according to Denver personal injury attorney Mark A. Simon:

Workplace Accidents

Every employee is at risk of being injured while on the job, especially those who work in high-risk industries such as construction. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that over 20% of all worker fatalities occur in the construction industry. See more commonly used statistics related to worker safety.

If a worker’s death is caused by the employer’s or another party’s negligence, the victim’s family may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

Medical Malpractice

Doctors are supposed to care for you and make you feel better, but many times, they do more harm than good. If a doctor, nurse, surgeon, or any other medical professional makes a fatal mistake, the victim’s family could file a wrongful death claim against him or her. Wrongful death caused by medical malpractice can occur due to surgical errors, prescription errors, malfunctioning medical equipment, or misdiagnosis.

Traffic Accidents

Many wrongful deaths occur in tragic traffic accidents involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, and pedestrians. These deaths can be caused by drivers who are intoxicated, distracted by an electronic device, or too drowsy to focus. People who are driving recklessly and ignoring traffic laws can also cause fatal accidents. Bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians are at a higher risk of suffering fatal injuries in an accident because they don’t have the same protection that motorists and truck drivers do. But unfortunately, sometimes even the most technologically advanced safety features inside vehicles are not enough to protect drivers and passengers from fatal injuries.

In all of these cases, the victim’s family has the right to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver and any other parties that may be at fault.

Defective Products

Consumers never expect the products that they purchase to harm them, but unfortunately, that’s what happens in some cases. Product designers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers sometimes make mistakes that lead to dangerous product defects. For example, if there is no warning label that tells consumers of the potential risks of using a product, this is considered to be a defect. Errors during the manufacturing process can also lead to dangerous defects that may cause fatal injuries. If a consumer is killed by a product defect, his family members may be able to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim filed against the at-fault party.

Have you lost a loved one? If you have any questions about your wrongful death claim, attorney Mark A. Simon can help. If you have lost a loved one because of another person’s negligence, call us or contact Mark A. Simon to discuss your rights during a free consultation.