Wrongful death is a term that is used when you need to describe the death of an individual that is caused by the negligence of another party.
This can be intentional, due to reckless driving, or due to another person’s omissions, and it can impact another person’s whole family.
Now, if we look at it in the context of car accidents, it is the fatality of one person that occurs due to the negligence of another party.
A wrongful death claim is created in auto accidents where the dead died due to another driver’s actions or negligence.
These could also include instances of drunk driving, recklessness while driving, and driving at high speeds, among others, including the fact that the car itself may have had defects that precipitated the death.
A car accident lawyer in Houston TX can help you understand the intricacies of auto accident fatalities.
Establishing Negligence in Fatal Accidents
Negligence is one of the more important concepts when it comes to cases where liability is determined and justice is taken.
In legal terms, negligence refers to the extent of care that a person would show in a situation.
Negligence is committed while driving through breaches of duty of care, which causes serious harm to other people on the road.
Duty of Care
A duty of care should be established to have existed on the part of the driver who caused death. This innate duty in auto accidents means that all vehicles operating expect to care for themselves, drive safely, and abide by traffic regulations to avoid hurting others.
Breach of Duty
The next step is to confirm that the defendant breached his duty. This can happen for many reasons, like driving under the influence, distracted driving, or speeding a vehicle on the road.
Often, the violation of traffic rules can be one reason for a party’s breach of duty.
Causation
Once a breach of duty is set, the next thing is to show that the particular breach directly caused the accident and, as a result, the fatality occurred.
Causation refers to attaching the negligent action directly to the event. The plaintiff must prove that the accident would not have happened but for the defendant’s neglect.
Damages
In this event, the damage that occurred was usually the death of someone in the car. However, looking at the extent of losses, such as income loss, is also essential. The loss of compensation and the medical losses.
The emotional distress that the family felt is also included in the damages that occurred. So, the damages are also an essential part of the fatal auto accident cases.
Read more: The Power of Expertise: Why Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer is Crucial for Your Case
Fatal Auto Accident – A Wrongful Death
These are some of the reasons that categorize fatal auto accidents and wrongful deaths. This is all described below.
Negligence
In the context of a fatal auto accident, negligence stands out as the most typical basis for a wrongful death claim. Therefore, it shows the other driver did not use care while driving, which led to the accident and, hence, the fatality.
For instance, this includes distractions, overspeeding, driving when drunk, and disregarding traffic rules. Extreme speeding or aggressive driving is recklessness and a more severe form of negligence, which could also lead to wrongful death.
Defective Parts
A vehicle defect, such as ineffective brakes or faulty airbags, may cause a fatal crash. In such situations, the car maker or defective component can be sued in tort for wrongful death.
Intentional Collision
In some cases, it is seen that the collision or the act of the accident is intentional. If a driver harms another person on the road and causes death, then this will lead to a wrongful death claim.
Establishment of Liability
It must be established that the other party’s actions or driving were direct causes of the fatal accident to claim wrongful death. This includes demonstrating negligence or intent, causation (the act caused the accident), and damages (resulted in death).
Survivor’s Role
Wrongful death claims are usually made by the dead person’s close relatives, like the parents, the children, or the spouse. They then get compensation for the loss, which includes funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of compensation, and emotional suffering.
Conclusion
When seen closely, fatal auto accidents are wrongful acts. They are considered to be wrong when they are done intentionally or negligently.
These elements form the basis of a wrongful death claim, which must go through different standards and legal processes. The claims also allow the victim’s family or estate to seek justice and compensation.