Friday, February 27, 2009

Understanding Wrongful Death Claims

A wrongful death occurs when someone is killed as a result of the negligent or reckless actions of another person. In situations where a person’s actions are intended to harm or kill the victim, it will be considered wrongful death as well.

Typically, only the immediate family of the victim, the spouse and children, are allowed to file a wrongful death claim. Sometimes, this will be extended to include the parents of the victim, particularly in instances where the victim does not have a spouse or children.

Causes of Wrongful Death


Wrongful death claims can result from any incident where a person’s death is caused by negligent or reckless behavior. These incidents can include:

· Motor vehicle accidents

· Defective products

· Surgical error

· Medical malpractice

· Nursing home abuse

· Construction accidents

· Workplace accidents

· Unsafe premises

· Plane crashes

Proving Fault


In order to win a wrongful death lawsuit, you must be able to prove that the person accused of wrongful death had an obligation to act in a certain way, and by failing to do so, caused the victim’s death.

The burden of proof in wrongful death cases is a “preponderance of the evidence.” This means you only have to show that it is more likely than not that the defendant’s actions led to the death of your loved one. This is considerably less than the burden of proof in a criminal case, where you need to prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Evidence needed to prove fault in a wrongful death case includes testimony from witnesses who saw the incident, medical reports, and police reports. In cases involving product liability, vehicle safety, or workplace safety, you might also need testimony from an expert witness.

Compensation


Generally, damages are awarded to financially compensate the victim’s family for their losses. Damages may be awarded for:


Funeral expenses

Medical expenses

Pain and suffering

Loss of companionship

Loss of income

Loss of inheritance

Loss of benefits



If the person’s actions were intentionally meant to harm the victim, punitive damages may be awarded as well.

There is a time limit on filing a wrongful death claim, which varies by state. You will want to consult with your wrongful death attorney to make sure that you meet all deadlines for filing your lawsuit.

If you have a wrongful death claim in the Orlando, Florida area, please contact the law offices of Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter today to schedule an initial consultation.

San Diego DUI Attorney

San Diego DUI Attorney

The best California DUI lawyer has the capability to turn the case in your favor. Toxicologists from the unit also testify as expert witnesses at DUI trials throughout San Diego County. Their are various Law Firma that specialize in defending those accused of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and related drunk driving cases. Society and the courts have declared war on the DUI driver. You will not be granted a restricted license allowing you to drive to and from the DUI course. Each offender must complete a DUI program run by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you have been charged with DUI, contact an attorney immediately. After several motions were filed attacking the illegal stop, the State dismissed DUI charges.

If you wait to reinstate until after your revocation period ends, proof of enrollment or completion of DUI School, and treatment, if referred, is required. First of all, owing to the experience in fighting the dui cases, a person can easily consult his case with the attorneys and can come to know about his chances of winning the case. Florida DUI attorneys and lawyers who have experience with both sides of Florida DUI law may be able to aggressively represent your case dealing with a Florida DUI. There are many dui attorneys in Florida that can easily be contacted in order to get the required help. Florida DUI penalties upon conviction are the same, regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven.

Florida DUI Law

DUI cases are among the most difficult police investigations. For third DUI offenses, a felony conviction carrying up to five years in prison is possible. Our law firm was established in the year 1979 and thus, has gathered good experience in dealing the dui cases. The operational plan will be completed and submitted to the troop commander no less than 10 days prior to the start of the DUI Checkpoint. Scott Inman would require DUI and DWI convictions be noted on drivers license. You may be offered the option of taking classes to reduce the penalties associated with your DUI or DWI. In fact, you should consider talking to several different MA or Greater Boston DUI lawyers before you decide. If you plea bargain to the criminal DUI charge, you will receive no more than a license suspension of 30 days. Hiring the best DUI lawyer MA is an appropriate action. Nearly every state has administrative licensing suspension as a part of their DWI and DUI laws. If you have caused an accident, injury or fatality while driving under the influence, DWI and DUI laws allow for much more severe consequences.

Orlando DUI Lawyer

DUI in Florida - In such cases, the relicensed driver is subject to a zero limit for 3 years following relicensing, or for as long as the person is required to use an alcohol interlock. Orlando DUI attorney may be able to move to suppress evidence against you, or even request a dismissal of the charges against you. If no prior DUI related convictions, may be eligible for hardship reinstatement after 5 years. If there are 3 or more convictions of DUI in the last 10 years, the charges can be more serious.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/san-diego-dui-attorney-321973.html 
Article Tags: San Diego Dui Attorney