Fatal Car Accidents in Oak Lawn

Wrongful death automobile accidents frequently occur at intersections. Typically, the speed of the vehicles involved is proportionate to the injuries and damage in a car accident. The harder the impact between the vehicles, the more likely injuries or even death may occur. However, a wrongful death car accident can happen anywhere cars are being driven. Pedestrians who have been struck and killed by vehicles result in a wrongful death case. Wrongful death is merely the damage that results from an otherwise typical car accident.

Whenever there is an automobile accident resulting in a fatality, there is a potential wrongful death case. There may be an issue as to how the accident occurred, which led to the wrongful death. To make a recovery for a wrongful death automobile accident, one must prove the other party was at fault.

If a loved one was killed due to the negligent actions of another, let a compassionate wrongful death attorney help your case. It is best to reach out to an attorney who has experience handling cases involving fatal car accidents in Oak Lawn.

Common Causes of a Fatal Accident

Fatal car accidents can result in a wrongful death case under many circumstances. When cars strike each other head-on, the injuries can often result in death, even with seatbelts and airbags. The force of the collision can result in someone being killed.

Other common fact patterns for wrongful death car accident cases include people being struck while on a bicycle. When a car hits a bike and kills the bike rider, a wrongful death case will arise. Finally, when a car strikes a pedestrian and kills them, this also results in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Does the Death Have to Occur as an Immediate Result of the Accident?

Many car accidents which result in wrongful death lawsuits do not cause the death of the individual immediately. Often the injuries are so severe that a person is hospitalized for a period of time. Additionally, any injury resulting from the car accident, which ultimately contributes to the death of the individual is included in a wrongful death case. An example of this would be someone who goes to the hospital and dies as a result of medical malpractice following a car accident.

The insurance company for the at-fault car would be responsible for wrongful death even though the death was caused by medical malpractice. If the person was not in the accident, to begin with, they would never have been in the hospital and been the victim of medical negligence. The law does not require the death of an individual to be directly related to the car accident. It is sufficient that the death occurs as one result stemming from the injuries in a crash.

Steps to Initiate a Wrongful Death Case

Following the wrongful death of a loved one, it is important to get legal advice as quickly as possible. Everyone understands the grieving process, but it is best to have qualified legal help to guide the relatives through the process as soon after a wrongful death as possible. There are many potential issues that can be prevented if a family follows the proper legal advice after a wrongful death accident. Once the legal rights are secured, then a lawyer will be able to explain to the family the process necessary to proceed with a wrongful death lawsuit.

How a Wrongful Death Attorney Could Help

In order to qualify as a wrongful death case, one must prove that someone else is responsible for the accident. If the accident was the fault of the deceased driver, then there is no wrongful death case. An experienced wrongful death lawyer will be in the best position to prove that the other driver was at fault for causing the accident, which resulted in death. Depending on the actions of the at-fault driver, they may serve as an aggravating factor that can increase the value and recovery in a wrongful death case.

Assuming one can prove that the wrongful death case was the fault of someone else, they still must prove the damages resulting from the wrongful conduct. Unfortunately, the law cannot bring someone back to life and only can compensate the remaining family members for their loss.

It is essential that all of the damages are preserved and presented in such a way as to maximize their recovery for the wrongful death. There are many factors that go into valuing a wrongful death claim, and an experienced wrongful death lawyer is in the best position to help a family analyze their options for recovery. Schedule a consultation with a skilled attorney to learn about the steps to take following a fatal car accident in Oak Lawn.