When a loved one passes away, the remaining family members are left understandably saddened. When that death was caused by someone’s negligence or misdeeds, the emotions that can follow the death are often heightened. We are left wondering why and what could have been done to change the outcome.
In instances where a person passes away because someone was careless or made poor decisions, a wrongful death may result. This is a way for the remaining family members to recover costs associated with medical bills incurred before the death, funeral and burial expenses and more.
One of the most common causes of wrongful death is car accidents. When a driver behaves in a negligent or reckless manner, they can easily cause an accident. Depending on the severity, the accident can result in traumatic injury and even death. It is not unusual for family members to be left with financial losses when their loved one passes away. What types of car accidents lead to wrongful death lawsuits the most often?
1. DUI
Without a doubt, one of the leading causes of car accidents that result in the filing of a wrongful death case is driving under the influence. When people choose to drink alcohol or take drugs and then get behind the wheel of a vehicle, they are putting themselves and everyone on the road at risk. If a drunk driver causes an accident that results in someone’s death, they are not only criminally liable, but can be held civilly liable as well.
2. Distracted Driving
When something causes you to take your eyes off the road and lose focus on the task at hand, you are distracted. You may eat, drink or check your cell phone instead of driving. You might discipline the kids in the backseat. You may reach onto the floor for that item that dropped out of your view. No matter what the cause, distracted driving leads to hundreds of thousands of accidents each year.
3. Reckless Driving
When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, you are doing so with an unspoken agreement to follow the rules of the road. If you choose to speed, run stop lights or weave in and out of your lane in an attempt to get where you are going faster, you are driving recklessly. You are at a very real risk of causing an accident and seriously harming another person or yourself.
No family should have to face the sudden death of a loved one, especially a death that is caused by another. If this has happened to you, you may have the right to file a lawsuit.
If a loved one has died as the result of a car accident in Atlanta, reach out to our team. We will help you schedule a case evaluation and discuss your legal options with you. You may be entitled to compensation for the financial losses your family has incurred.
