There is nothing worse than the loss of a loved one due to a fatal accident. The sense of anguish and loss can overwhelm even the strongest person. One common question is whether the accident was truly an accident or whether someone was responsible for the death through negligence.
That question is routinely answered by juries when families sue for wrongful death. In a recent case, a jury awarded a family almost $300 million in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a fatal accident between a tractor-trailer and a pickup truck. An Army veteran died when a drive shaft broke off the tractor-trailer in front of the pickup truck and slammed through its front window, killing the veteran who was in the passenger seat.
The victim’s family argued that the company that owned the tractor-trailer was negligent for not properly maintaining their vehicle. The jury agreed, and awarded compensation to the veteran’s children, plus an additional award of punitive damages against the company that owned the tractor-trailer.
While this case took place in Texas, such tragic cases happen all too often in New York as well. A family member’s death can lead to concerns over how to replace lost income, how to pay for medical and funeral expenses, and how to punish the person or company responsible for the death. Such questions can be overwhelming when dealing with the pain and suffering associated with the death of a loved one. Now is the time to find answers to your questions and begin to plan a path forward. This path may include a wrongful death lawsuit to help you recover financially from your loss.
Source: Mysanantonio.com, “Shale company ordered to pay $281M in wrongful death,” Guillermo Contreras, Dec. 7, 2013
