Common Causes of Wrongful Death in San Francisco

Many situations and scenarios may fall under wrongful death. Technically, wrongful death is defined as “denoting a civil action in which damages are sought against a party for  causing a death, typically when criminal action has failed or is not attempted.” No matter what  the cause of wrongful death may be, there is always a person or party that is at fault for the  death, in which case a wrongful death claim may be filed.

Examples of Wrongful Death in California:

• Murder – Murder may fall under wrongful death, but not all murders are wrongful death.  Since murder is a crime, a murder will often be brought to court by the state.  Wrongful death claims are brought to civil court by an individual or family. In the  event that a murderer is not found guilty in state court, a person may still bring  that suspect to civil court under a wrongful death claim.
• Nursing Home Negligence – The high-rate of nursing home abuse in the United States is alarming. If you  believe a family member or loved one was not receiving proper care in their  nursing or retirement home, and died because of it, you may be able to file for a  wrongful death claim.
  
  Whether it was an intentional or negligent act, nursing  home and retirement facility abuse is unacceptable. Any sudden death that  occurs under a caretaker’s watch should be investigated in the chance of it being  a wrongful death.
• Drowning – If anyone, children and adults alike, drown in a public or even private pool, it may  be considered a wrongful death. At public pools, there should be a lifeguard on  duty as well as a maintenance crew that upkeep the safety and cleanliness of  the pool. A death may be due to negligence if the lifeguard were reckless, ignorant or did not provide proper care to the victim. In the event of a private  pool, a supervisor or guardian may be held liable for any deaths that occur on  their property, depending on the situation.
• Faulty, Recalled or Malfunctioning Products – In California, we have product liability laws. This means that consumers are  entitled to functional, safe products. No matter what the type of product is, from  motors to ladders, if a consumer is injured or dies as a result of using a faulty  product, they have the right to file a civil claim against the company or entity that  provided the product. Even in the event that a product or appliance is recalled, if  its faultiness caused death, it may still result in a wrongful death lawsuit.
• Motor or Bicycle Accident – It is the responsibility of everyone to follow road rules and look out for  pedestrians. San Francisco Bay Area was ranked 5th in the nation as being the  most congested in terms of traffic in 2018. With our large population, there comes a high amount of traffic.
  
  Not only do we have a great deal of cars and  other motor vehicles on the road, we also have public transportation and cyclists  to worry about; not to mention the electric scooters trying to make their way into  our bike lanes. In short, there is a certain level of risk involved in being on the  road, however, if a death were to occur due to the negligence or recklessness of  a fellow driver or cyclist, they may be held responsible for a wrongful death.
• Workplace Accidents – If someone is killed on the job, it is often a result of negligence. Oftentimes,  wrongful death cases occur at construction sites or other heavy-lifting  occupations. Wrongful death is not limited to construction jobs, just more likely.  If you or a loved one is killed due to maintenance issues, faulty equipment,  electrocution or any other causes, a medical malpractice claim may be due.
• Medical Malpractice – In the event that a person dies under the care or due to lack of care by a medical  provider, it may be considered wrongful death by medical malpractice. Medical  malpractice is sadly, a not-so-uncommon practice in the United States. It is  serious, however, and you and your family deserve to be compensated for your  losses. The responsible party may be the individual doctor, surgeon or nurse, or it  may be the responsibility of the hospital or medical facility owners. No matter  who is at fault, a death that occurs at the hands and care of a medical  professional is unacceptable.

These are only some examples of what constitutes a wrongful death. If you believe a  loved one has passed due to the negligence or carelessness of another, but the means by which  it occurred is not listed, call us to see what your options are.

San Francisco Wrongful Death Attorneys at the Anna Dubrovsky Law Group

Anna Dubrovsky is an esteemed and reputable wrongful death attorney in the Bay Area of California and will gladly assist you and your family with your case. If you do choose to file a  wrongful death claim, she will guide you through the process from start to finish.

You will not be  left in the dark, nor will you be disregarded in the decision-making. Anna Dubrovsky works  closely with all of her clients, ensuring that they receive a favorable outcome. To work with a  professional attorney in the Bay Area, trust no one but Anna Dubrovsky Law Group. Call us today at (415) 746-1477 or (800) 440-6313 or email us using our contact form.