According to the National Safety Council, the U.S. has seen at least 40,000 roadway deaths in three years. From 2016 through 2018. Without a clear understanding of the scope of the problem, regulations, laws, and policies to combat specific issues, like distracted driving, become more difficult to justify.
Wrongful Death Act
Every state has now enacted some form of wrongful death act. In some jurisdictions, the personal representative is the proper party to bring the action. The surviving spouse or next of kin herself might be the appropriate party. Under most statutes, the measure of recovery in wrongful death actions is a monetary injury to the spouses. This allows recovery from loss of support, loss of companionship, etc. It does not allow any recovery for the decedent’s pain and suffering. Those damages would be an element of a personal injury survival action brought on behalf of the decedent.
The negligence, recklessness, or intentional action of another person or business usually causes wrongful death. Under Texas law and the tort of wrongful death claim, a party can move forward with holding the offending party accountable for their loved one’s tragic passing. The three most frequent causes of wrongful death are as follows:
Car Accident Wrongful Death
According to the National Safety Council, the U.S. has seen three straight years of at least 40,000 roadway deaths – from 2016 through 2018. Without a clear understanding of the scope of the problem, regulations, laws, and policies to combat specific issues, like distracted driving, become more difficult to justify. In Texas, 3,800 people die each year from a car, truck, motorcycle, or bus accident. The common causes of these tragic events are persons driving while distracted, aggressively or recklessly, driving while drunk or under the influence, or otherwise impaired. They can be considered moving negligently as they are not upholding their duty of care to others on the road.
Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice is another common cause of wrongful death action. When healthcare workers fail to provide care that meets a certain standard, they can be considered negligent in their duties. Usually, a mistake is made when diagnosing a patient, prescribing medications, determining a treatment method, performing surgery, administering anesthesia, or any other medically related procedure. This can lead to the patient’s wrongful death. Some other common causes of wrongful death in medical Malpractice are injuries during the birth of a child. The abuse or neglect of a patient and defective or poorly maintained medical devices. You must talk to an attorney immediately and not wait if you are a victim of Medical Malpractice.
Defective Products
The basic principle of “product liability” is the generic phrase used to describe the liability of the supplier of a product to one injured.
There are five theories of liability available to Plaintiff in a product liability case:
(1) Intent,
(2) Negligence,
(3) Strict Liability,
(4) Implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose; and
(5) Representation theories (express warranty and misrepresentation)
In addition to the above, there are manufacturing defects and design defects. A manufacturing defect is when a product emerges from a manufacturing process more dangerous than if it had been made the way it should have been. The product is “unreasonably dangerous” as to be defective because of the manufacturing defect. A design defect is when all the product lines are made according to the manufacturing specification but have dangerous propensities because of a mechanical feature or packaging. Thus, the entire cable may be defective because of poor design. The manufacturers have legally required to safety test their products, which means they are liable if a consumer dies directly from using their product. Contacting an attorney and understanding your rights is vital if you are a victim of a defective product.
Contact your Injury Lawyer before you settle.
At Houston Area Injury Lawyers, PLLC, our firm focuses on representing those who have suffered a personal injury through the recovery process – physical, emotional, and financial recovery from injuries. We help clients tip the balance of justice into their favor through our years of experience and expertise and our vigorous representation of injured clients. Our care and preparation are the keys to our success. The Houston Area Injury Lawyers, PLLC, can help you navigate this issue and answer any questions you may have. If you want to speak to someone about your situation or for a free consultation, call our office at (713) 366-HURT (4878)—Tip the Balance in Your Favor.
* At Houston Area Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we pride ourselves on helping our clients recover fully – physically, emotionally, and financially. Our clients are our family. We stand ready to help your recovery from your injury. Contact us today. https://houinjurylawyers.com/
