The pain and grief of losing a loved one can be overwhelming, especially if the death was caused by someone else’s negligence. You may be able to seek justice during these tragic times by filing a wrongful death claim. Surviving family members can bring this type of action and hold the responsible party liable, recovering compensation for their losses. Wrongful death occurs when someone else’s negligence causes a loved one to lose their life. Contact a Mississippi wrongful death lawyer if you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence.
How Does Mississippi Define Wrongful Death?
In Mississippi, a wrongful death occurs when someone or something causes another person’s death through negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing. This includes a number of situations, such as car accidents, medical malpractice, maritime accidents, and even criminal acts. The key factor in determining if a death was wrongful is whether or not it could have been prevented if the responsible party had acted with reasonable care.
Mississippi Wrongful Death Causes
In Mississippi, this death is most often caused by:
- Car crashes: It is possible for negligent or reckless drivers to be held responsible for fatal accidents they cause. Drugged or drunk motorists, distracted drivers, or other traffic violations may be involved.
- Medical malpractice: If the death is caused by healthcare providers failing to uphold the standard of care they are expected to provide and their actions result in the death of a patient. Among these are misdiagnoses, surgical errors, medication errors, etc.
- Criminal acts: Murder is the intentional killing of another person. It may still be considered wrongful, even if it occurred by accident when a crime is committed. For example, if a bystander is killed during a robbery, their family may be able to file a claim against the perpetrator.
- Defective products: If a defective or dangerous product causes the death of a person, it may be considered wrongful. A faulty car part or unsafe medication can fall under this category.
- In cases of death caused by dangerous roads, it may be considered wrongful because the road has been designed, built, or maintained in a way that led to a fatal accident. Examples are wrongly placed signage, poor lighting, and other hazardous conditions.
Filing a Death Claim in Mississippi
Losing a loved one is emotionally and financially devastating. In addition to your grief, your family might face high medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and a loss of income if the deceased contributed financially. A wrongful death lawyer can help alleviate some of this burden by pursuing compensation on your behalf. This can include damages for:
- Medical costs
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of income and benefits in the future
- Pain and suffering by the deceased before they died
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
The Diaz Law Firm: Wrongful Death Attorneys
The Diaz Law Firm is waiting to help you when a loved one dies because of the negligent actions of another. You can contact us by calling either (601) 607-3456 or (800) 459-2222 as soon as possible for a free consultation about your case. If you prefer to contact us online, please do so as well.