Many of the leading causes of death in the United States are diseases and other illnesses. But a significant number of Americans die each year at the hands of another. If you have a loved one who died at the hands of another, you might have multiple legal options for seeking justice. A civil option is filing a wrongful death lawsuit. You can file a wrongful death lawsuit against someone who committed a crime against your loved one. You can also file a wrongful death lawsuit against someone who was negligent toward your loved one.
Homicide Statistics In The United States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there were 24,576 deaths by homicide in the United States in 2020. Grieving families of homicide victims can find justice in criminal prosecution alone. These families can also choose to file wrongful death lawsuits in civil court.
Unintentional Injury Statistics In The United States
Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in this country. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that unintentional injuries were the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in 2020. Out of the 200,955 unintentional injury deaths that occurred in the United States in 2020:
- 42,114 were unintentional falls,
- 40,698 were motor vehicle traffic deaths, and
- 87,404 were unintentional poisoning deaths.
Sadly, we can safely assume that many of these fatalities could have been avoided if third parties had acted with more care and vigilance.
In many cases, someone causing an unintentional, fatal injury to your loved one is not liable for a criminal offense. Also, the standard for convicting someone of a criminal offense is significantly higher than the standard for holding a wrongful actor accountable in civil court.
If your loved one died from an unintentional injury, a wrongful death lawsuit might be your best (or only) legal option for seeking justice against the perpetrator. We cannot change the past, but a good attorney can help grieving parties hold wrongful actors accountable. Las Vegas wrongful death attorneys can help grieving parties file wrongful death lawsuits and maximize their legal recoveries.
