When loved ones die, questions often surface. You may wonder if you could have done anything more for them, or you may ask yourself whether the treatment they received was the best. These questions are natural, whether your Ohio relative spent time in a hospital before passing away or succumbed to injuries from an accident.
Sometimes a loved one’s death makes families feel wronged in a deep way, beyond the sense of betrayal bereavement counselors say is normal. If something suspicious surrounds your family member’s passing, it may be worth looking into.
FindLaw explains what you need to know about wrongful death claims. To define it, FindLaw says, “The key is that the loved one died as a result of someone else’s wrongful action, neglect, or default.” In other words, families feeling like a loved one betrayed them by leaving them behind is not enough. The death must be a direct result of another person’s error or negligence.
If it is, the relatives who can bring a suit include those the loss impacted most directly: children, parents or a spouse. You may want to consider seeking damages for setbacks including the losses of:
- A future inheritance that is no longer available
- Companionship now absent
- Support now non-existent
FindLaw gives some examples of claims to help you understand what constitutes wrongful death. One is a criminal action that ends in loss of life such as a drunk driving accident. Another is a prescription drug mistake made by a prescribing physician or a pharmacy. Plane crashes and motor vehicle accidents can sometimes fall under wrongful death claims as well.
Note this information solely intends to educate about claims of negligence that lead to death. It does not offer legal advice.
