A wrongful death lawsuit is valid only when a loved one dies because of the negligence or reckless behavior of another party. If it is found that the deceased contributed to their own death, the surviving family may not be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.
In Virginia, the contributory negligence laws make it so that a victim cannot be found to have contributed to their injuries in any way to recover damages. Negligence is the most important factor in determining whether the family of the deceased can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Defective products, dangerous drugs, medical malpractice, and many types of fatal accidents are all typical incidents where a wrongful death lawsuit may be valid. In all of these cases, you must be able to prove that your loved one was injured because of the behavior of another party and that those injuries proved fatal.
You should contact a local wrongful death attorney immediately to discuss your situation. Well-documented evidence of the negligent or reckless actions will be necessary to show that your loved one died through no fault of their own and that their case is truly a wrongful death.
Contacting a Fairfax Wrongful Death Attorney
The unexpected loss of a loved one is a difficult time in your life that shouldn't be made worse by the stress of dealing with the insurance companies. Fairfax wrongful death attorney Ben Glass fights to help victims in the Virginia and D.C. areas with wrongful death cases.
You can download a FREE copy of our consumer guide, The Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim, to learn more about personal injury claims.
If you have a question for Ben, you can submit it confidentially online at JustAskBenGlass.com.