Most Common Types of Wrongful Death Actions

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans die from entirely preventable causes. The CDC estimates over 173,000 people died in 2019 from unintentional injuries. That accounts for just a fraction of the total of deaths that may have been caused by someone’s negligence. In many of these deaths, the surviving families are eligible for some sort of compensation through a wrongful death action. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common wrongful death lawsuits that make it to court.

Vehicular Accidents

America sees over 30,000 fatalities due to car and truck accidents every year (37,595 in 2019). While this number accounts for only a portion of the total injury fatalities each year, vehicle accidents are one of the most common types of wrongful death cases. This is mainly because human error and negligence are involved in a large percentage of these deaths.

Medical Malpractice

Many statisticians claim that we lose an average of 98,000 people a year to medical errors and malpractice. However, recent studies have suggested that the number may be as high as 250,000 per year, making it the third leading cause of death. Many personal injury claims are based on medical malpractice. If a medical error results in a loved one’s death, it may be categorized as a wrongful death claim.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Pedestrians and cyclists are at increased risk from reckless, negligent, or inattentive drivers. About 16 percent of all traffic fatalities involve pedestrians or cyclists—but during the pandemic lockdowns, many locations reported a spike in pedestrian deaths.

Workplace Injuries

While some occupations carry more risk of injury than others, employers are still responsible for providing safe working conditions for their employees. In many cases, they fail to do so, resulting in a significant number of wrongful death lawsuits.

Defective Products

If a product has a defect in design or assembly, it can sometimes cause unnecessary injury or death—and the manufacturer is liable for it. Tens of thousands of people die needlessly from careless or negligent manufacturing.

Wrongful death laws are implemented in each state to provide accountability for negligent actors as well as provision for the people left behind. If you believe a loved one has died needlessly due to someone else’s negligence, our personal injury attorneys can help. Give Ogborn Mihm, LLP a call for a free consultation.