What are the common causes of wrongful death?

Wrongful death laws are in place in Virginia to protect people in cases where a death is caused by the negligence or intentional harm of another person or entity. While every case is different, there are some common causes of wrongful death that come up often. One common cause of wrongful death is medical malpractice. This occurs when a medical professional fails to provide the proper level of care and a patient dies as a result. This could mean a doctor failing to diagnose a serious condition, a hospital failing to provide proper aftercare, or a pharmacy misfilling a prescription. Another common cause of wrongful death is car accidents. Negligent driving such as drunk driving, texting while driving, and speeding can result in a fatal crash. If a driver is operating their vehicle recklessly, and an accident occurs that causes a death, they may be held liable for wrongful death. Another common cause is workplace accidents. If a worker dies due to a hazardous condition in the workplace, their employer may be held liable for wrongful death. This could be caused by failing to provide a safe working environment, failing to provide proper safety equipment, or not adhering to safety protocols for dangerous tasks. Finally, wrongful death can also be caused by defective products. If a product does not meet certain safety standards and causes a death, the manufacturer or designer may be held responsible. This could be a dangerous tool or appliance, or it could be a drug or medical device. In all of these cases, an experienced wrongful death lawyer can help survivors of the deceased to fight for justice and fair compensation.

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Is a wrongful death claim the same as a wrongful death suit?
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