A wrongful death occurs when someone’s life is cut short because of another person’s negligence, carelessness, or intentional misconduct. These cases are tragic, complex, and often preventable. For surviving families, understanding what caused the death is the first step toward seeking justice and financial accountability.
Wrongful death lawsuits can arise from a wide range of situations from car and truck crashes to medical mistakes, workplace hazards, or defective products. Each case is different, but they all share one truth: the death could have been avoided if someone had acted responsibly.
Below, we explore the most common causes of wrongful death and how they typically lead to legal action.
1. Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of wrongful death and across the United States. Every year, thousands of people lose their lives in accidents caused by driver negligence.
Common forms of driver negligence include:
- Distracted driving, such as texting or eating behind the wheel
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Running red lights or failing to yield
- Fatigued or drowsy driving, especially among commercial truck drivers
When these actions cause a fatal crash, the at-fault driver and in some cases, their employer or vehicle manufacturer may be held liable through a wrongful death lawsuit.
In Georgia, wrongful death claims often arise from truck and commercial vehicle accidents, where corporate negligence (like poor maintenance or forcing drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits) contributes to deadly collisions. Families may pursue damages for the “full value of life” of their loved one, including lost income, companionship, and future contributions.
2. Medical Malpractice
Medical errors are another major source of wrongful death cases. Although most healthcare providers strive to offer quality care, mistakes can and do happen and sometimes, the consequences are fatal.
A wrongful death from medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, or hospital fails to meet the accepted standard of care, directly leading to a patient’s death. Common examples include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a serious condition
- Surgical errors or anesthesia mistakes
- Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage
- Failure to monitor vital signs or respond to complications
- Birth injuries resulting in maternal or infant death
In these cases, liability may rest not only with an individual physician but also with the hospital, clinic, or healthcare system that employed them. Medical wrongful death claims are complex and require expert testimony to prove both negligence and causation but they remain a vital way for families to hold negligent medical providers accountable and push for safer practices in the future.
3. Workplace and Construction Accidents
Workplaces, especially construction sites and industrial environments, can be dangerous when safety standards aren’t properly enforced. Employers are legally required to provide safe working conditions, training, and equipment but violations of those duties often lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
Common causes of workplace-related wrongful deaths include:
- Falls from heights due to lack of guardrails or harnesses
- Machinery accidents caused by inadequate maintenance or training
- Exposure to toxic substances like asbestos or hazardous chemicals
- Electrocutions or fires from faulty wiring
- Vehicle or equipment collisions on job sites
While workers’ compensation benefits may cover some expenses, they rarely address the full scope of the family’s loss. In certain cases for example, when a third party (like an equipment manufacturer or subcontractor) was responsible for the unsafe condition, families may file a separate wrongful death lawsuit to recover broader damages.
4. Defective or Dangerous Products
Manufacturers and distributors have a duty to design, produce, and sell products that are reasonably safe for consumer use. When they fail in that responsibility, the results can be deadly.
Product-related wrongful death may involve:
- Faulty automobile parts, such as defective brakes or airbags
- Unsafe prescription drugs or medical devices
- Contaminated food or nutritional supplements
- Dangerous household appliances or electronics
- Industrial equipment that lacks proper safety guards or warnings
Under product liability law, a company can be held responsible if a defect in design, manufacturing, or marketing caused the fatal injury. These cases not only seek compensation for families but also push companies to recall unsafe products and improve consumer protection.
5. Premises Liability (Unsafe Property Conditions)
Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors and tenants. When they fail to do so, premises liability laws allow families to hold them accountable for preventable deaths on their property.
Wrongful death claims can arise from:
- Slips, trips, or falls due to unaddressed hazards
- Fatal drownings in poorly maintained swimming pools
- Structural collapses or building code violations
- Inadequate security leading to assaults or homicides
- Fires or carbon monoxide poisoning caused by negligence
For instance, if a landlord ignores fire safety regulations or a business fails to provide adequate lighting in a parking lot where a violent crime occurs, the property owner may face liability. In Georgia, premises liability cases are common in both residential and commercial contexts from apartment complexes to retail stores.
6. Criminal Acts and Intentional Misconduct
While many wrongful deaths involve negligence, others stem from intentional or criminal behavior. If someone’s deliberate act such as assault, shooting, or drunk driving leads to another person’s death, they can face both criminal prosecution and civil liability through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Even if the state does not secure a criminal conviction, families can still pursue civil justice. The key difference is the burden of proof: civil cases only require showing that it’s more likely than not that the defendant’s actions caused the death.
A well-known example is when a family files a wrongful death lawsuit after a fatal DUI crash or violent attack. The criminal court focuses on punishment, while the civil court provides a path for survivors to recover damages and achieve closure.
7. Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse
Elderly individuals in nursing homes rely on staff for care, medication, and supervision. Sadly, neglect or abuse in these facilities can lead to wrongful death often through dehydration, untreated infections, or preventable falls.
Examples of nursing home negligence that can cause death include:
- Failure to provide adequate nutrition, hydration, or medical care
- Bedsores and infections resulting from improper monitoring
- Medication errors or overdoses
- Physical abuse by staff or other residents
- Unsafe conditions leading to fatal falls or choking
Families trust nursing homes to protect their loved ones. When that trust is broken, a wrongful death claim can expose systemic neglect and help prevent similar tragedies from happening to others.
8. Aviation, Maritime, and Other Transportation Accidents
While less common than motor vehicle crashes, transportation disasters such as airplane crashes, boating accidents, or train derailments often lead to wrongful death lawsuits.
These cases typically involve complex investigations and multiple liable parties, including:
- Airline operators or maintenance providers
- Boat operators or rental companies
- Manufacturers of defective aircraft or maritime equipment
- Government agencies responsible for transportation safety oversight
Wrongful death claims in these scenarios aim to hold all negligent parties accountable and compensate families for their devastating loss.
How an Attorney Can Help After a Wrongful Death
After a fatal accident, families often face grief, confusion, and financial uncertainty. An experienced wrongful death attorney can help by:
- Investigating the cause of death and identifying all responsible parties
- Gathering evidence and consulting with medical or accident experts
- Handling communication with insurers and defense attorneys
- Calculating the full value of the family’s losses
- Pursuing compensation through settlement or trial
At Georgia Wrongful Death Attorney P.C., we understand that no amount of money can replace a life. But holding negligent parties accountable can bring closure, justice, and financial relief to help families move forward.
Summary
Wrongful death arises from many types of negligence from reckless drivers and careless doctors to unsafe workplaces and defective products. What unites these cases is that they were preventable.
Families who have lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions have legal rights. With the right legal guidance, they can uncover the truth, demand accountability, and secure the financial stability they deserve. If you’ve lost a loved one to the negligence or intentional action of another, our firm specializes in wrongful death claims throughout Georgia. Contact us for free case evaluation.