The unexpected death of a loved one can be especially painful if another party is responsible for it. In Nevada, surviving family members are legally allowed to hold the responsible individual or entity liable for the wrongful death of their loved one. Our Las Vegas wrongful death lawyers can help build a case if you lost a loved one due to negligent or wanton actions. The most common causes of wrongful death including the following:
Car accidents are the most common cause of wrongful deaths. According to recent statistics from 2019, there were 284 car accident fatalities reported in Nevada. Where Las Vegas is located, in Clark County, had the most reported fatalities—185. Most fatal car accidents are caused by the negligence of one or more drivers through:
Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. When a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional makes a significant mistake, the consequences could be fatal for the patient. Many wrongful death claims result from a misdiagnosis of an illness or a failure to identify a condition, incorrect treatment of a medical condition, surgical errors, birth injuries, medication errors, and more.
High-risk occupations like construction jobs and manual labor are inherently dangerous and have a high risk of workplace fatalities. However, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide a relatively safe work environment to prevent serious accidents. A wrongful death claim can be brought against an employer if a worker is killed when put in a hazardous situation due to company negligence.
The designer, manufacturer, distributor, and seller of a product can be held legally responsible if a consumer dies because of a defective product. A faulty design, defective manufacturing, or failure to warn are all possible grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.
Other common causes of wrongful deaths in Nevada include bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, and criminal acts.
Wrongful death is a civil claim filed solely to seek monetary compensation and can be filed by the following parties in Nevada:
Other dependents may be allowed to file a claim, but they must prove their dependence on the deceased at the time of his or her death. For instance, stepchildren, stepparents, or an unrelated child supported by the deceased for at least six months out of the year.
Damages awarded for a Las Vegas wrongful death claim provide compensation for:
If the defendant acted maliciously or extremely reckless, punitive damages might be awarded to punish the at-fault party.
If you have lost a loved one prematurely due to another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, call Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers. Our Las Vegas attorneys will help you hold the responsible parties accountable for this tragedy and possibly bring you peace of mind. Call (702) 384-1414 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.