When you lose a loved one, it is hard to know what to do next. This is especially true if the cause was unexpected or even violent. Although financial damages may be the last thing on your mind, a financial future may depend on it and someone’s careless or malevolent decision should not go unanswered.
Although a lawsuit may begin whether or not there are criminal charges surrounding the matter of a death, a prosecutor deciding to file charges against a person or people is a good indication they may be considered liable under civil law as well.
The mother of a man who died after being assaulted is suing the man who was found guilty of the crime as well as his former employer. The defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit struck the victim in the head during an altercation in New York. He then returned to North Carolina the next day before going back to turn himself in.
Although it may seem strange to sue the employer of the defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit, it’s important to consider that work culture or work requirements are factors that may have contributed to a wrongful death. Several parties may be liable in a wrongful death, such as a business owner who failed to provide adequate security for their premises.
An attorney can help work out if a wrongful death lawsuit is a productive idea in the wake of a sudden loss. Legal representation may also figure out who should be defendants in a suit that may have many factors involved.