If you have lost someone you love because of a fatal accident then you may have heard the term wrongful death but feel unsure of what it means exactly, what causes wrongful death and if you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Although it is advisable to contact an experienced a wrongful death attorney in the event of any fatal accident, there is some basic information that may be valuable to survivors and help them understand the term and process.

If an individual has been killed as a result of the negligent actions or inaction of another person or entity, it is known as a wrongful death. A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed by surviving dependents, beneficiaries or family members who are legally considered entitled to damages payments as a result of a wrongful death. In order to bring a wrongful death claim to justice, the survivors and their lawyer must prove that the guilty individual or individuals had a legal and reasonable duty to behave in a certain fashion and that their failure to live up to that legal duty caused the accidental death of their relative.

Wrongful deaths may occur under a huge variety of accidental circumstances. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of wrongful death as is medical malpractice, negligent misdiagnosis and medication errors. Defective products, construction accidents and other work place accidents or accidents occurring on public or private unsafe premises may all be the cause of a wrongful death. It is important to discuss the accident and circumstances of the death thoroughly with an attorney as soon as possible afterward to help begin the elaborate documentation process necessary for a successful claim. The negligent parties responsible may not be subject to the legal justice of a prison sentence but a competent injury lawyer will give the survivors the best chances of receiving economic compensation for their loss. Economic compensation may include the financial recovery of loss of future wages, loss of benefits are pensions, pain and suffering and punitive damages.

Although the precise regulations will vary from state to state, wrongful death lawsuits may be filed by immediate family members who were dependents on with the victim as well as family members who are not dependent but are legally in line to be beneficiaries of the deceased individual’s assets. If no such family members exist, certain representatives may file a claim in their stead.