Oklahoma Blog: Criminal Law Situations

The death of a loved one is always difficult. When the death is unexpected, however, the effect on the family can be debilitating. The family can recover damages from the death if it occurred because of the negligence of another person besides the deceased. Negligence is essentially the unreasonable actions of another resulting in harm. When this negligence causes the greatest harm, death, a wrongful death suit can be filed by an Oklahoma personal injury attorney to compensate the grieving party.

 

Oklahoma Accident Wrongful Death Lawsuits

An estimated 12,000 accidental injuries occur every hour of every day in America. These accidents include medical malpractice, car accidents, dog bites, motorcycle accidents, plane crashes, and railroad accidents to name a few.

Defective products are an often-overlooked cause of wrongful death. America is a consumer-driven society that thrives on the manufacturing and distributing of daily products. Countless products are produced and used every day. It is vitally important that these products are safe for the public. If this is not the case and a death occurs due to the faulty product, it is our duty to keep the manufacturers accountable by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against them.

Wrongful death lawsuits are meant to help alleviate the hardship associated with a sudden and unexpected death attributed to the actions or inactions of another. As a form of checks and balances, a wrongful death lawsuit attempts to compensate innocent parties for the devastating loss of a loved one.

The wrongful death of a family member can impose a heavy financial burden on the surviving members of the family. Unexpected costs such as medical costs due to long hospital stays and surgeries, as well as funeral costs can cripple an already grieving family at this overwhelming time. These costs, as well as lost wages, bonuses, and loss of estimated future income can be awarded as compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. Although monetary concerns are pivotal while dealing with a wrongful death, the most crucial loss is emotional. Oftentimes courts will allow the plaintiff to ask for damages due to emotional distress caused by the sudden death of a family member. Courts also reserve the right to include damages for loss of companionship. Though this form of damages is very abstract and intangible, awarding loss of companionship damages seeks to lessen the missed benefit of having that family member around.

If you have lost a family member due to the negligence of another, you may be qualified to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. The death of a loved one can create immense financial and emotional hardship for the surviving members of the family. Although nothing can reverse the loss you have endured, damages can be awarded to lessen your financial burden. Contact an experienced OK wrongful death lawyer at Atkins and Markoff to learn your rights and possible remedies today.

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