Violence and injuries are the leading cause of death for people under 44. These tragic incidents usually aren’t “accidents.” Instead, negligence, or a lack of care, usually causes wrongful death. Financial compensation cannot possibly fill the emotional void that a wrongful death leaves. Quite frankly, however, it helps. Compensation enables survivors to move on with their lives, which is what the decedent would have wanted.
Compensation for pecuniary losses, such as lost future emotional and financial support, is only one reason to partner with a Columbia personal injury lawyer in these situations. Legal actions also provide justice and closure. They serve as a permanent reminder that a wrongful death was the tortfeasor’s (negligent actor’s) responsibility. Furthermore, they close the book on a very painful chapter in a family’s life.
Motor Vehicle Collision
These incidents kill or seriously injure millions of Americans every year. Driver error causes over 98 percent of these collisions. Usually, that driver error is one of the following:
- Aggressive Driving: Excessive speed is the most common, and most dangerous, kind of aggressive driving. Today’s cars and trucks are faster than ever before. A little extra pressure on the accelerator usually propels a vehicle to a dangerously high speed. Other kidneys of aggressive driving include ignoring traffic control devices and turning unsafely.
- Impaired Driving: About half of the tortfeasors (negligent drivers) who cause fatal accidents are under the influence of alcohol or another drug, usually marijuana. Substance impairment slows reactions and clouds judgment. Fatigue causes basically the same symptoms. Other kinds of driver impairment include distraction and driving with a serious or moderate medical condition.
Drivers are individually responsible for the wrecks they cause. Frequently, a Columbia personal injury lawyer can hold a third party, like an employer, financially responsible for damages in these cases.
Unintentional Poisoning
Similarly, multiple parties could be financially responsible for unintentional poisoning wrongful deaths. Most of these incidents are drug overdose deaths.
Many property owners turn a blind eye to drug use in their own buildings. They also freely allow drug transactions to take place on their property.
Frequently, doctors write prescriptions without asking questions. The government has cracked down on these “pill mills” in recent years, but many are still in operation.
Drug shipping companies are the unknown player in the opioid crisis. Under the Controlled Substances Act, companies can only transport painkillers and other controlled substances in limited situations. If they ignore the rules to pad their profits, they could be legally responsible for damages.
Fall
A fall from as little as four stories above ground is usually fatal. Owner negligence, such as a poorly maintained balcony, often causes such falls.
Slip-and-falls are often fatal if the victim has a pre-existing condition. Such conditions, including poor eyesight or lack of mobility, also increase the risk of a serious fall.
Drowning
Swimming pool drownings are the leading cause of death for children under 2. Children of this age can drown in as little as two inches of water.
Swimming pool poisonings could be an issue as well, once again if the victim has a pre-existing condition. Owners use chlorine and other toxic substances to clean their swimming pools.
Assault
Individuals bear some responsibility for drug overdose deaths. Individuals are also legally responsible for assaults and other violent crimes. Property owners are financially responsible for damages, if they had a duty of care, which includes a duty to provide adequate security, they knew about (or should have known about) a security issue, and they failed to address that issue.
Rely on a Savvy Richland County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Columbia, contact the Marc Brown Law Firm. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.
Source:
cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/animated-leading-causes.html