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Losing a loved one too soon is something that no one should ever have to experience. Unfortunately, wrongful death claims arise fairly regularly in and around Mesa, Arizona. Anytime a person loses their life due to the careless, negligent, or intentional actions of another, this could be considered a wrongful death. Family members can bring wrongful death claims in civil court against the alleged negligent party in order to recover compensation and closure for their losses. Here, we want to discuss some of the most common causes of wrongful death.
According to data available from the Arizona Department of Transportation, we can see that there were 982 total fatalities caused by vehicle accidents across the state during the latest reporting year. Unfortunately, accidents involving vehicles are one of the leading causes of wrongful death in Arizona and throughout the US. Often, these incidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers, including those impaired by alcohol or drugs, distracted by their phones or other devices, or drivers who completely disregard traffic laws.
The Arizona DOT shows us that there were 60 large tractor-trailers involved in fatal accidents across the state during the latest reporting year. Additionally, accidents involving other large commercial trucks also occur fairly regularly throughout the state, including dump trucks, construction trucks, tanker trucks, garbage trucks, and more. Commercial truck drivers and truck companies must uphold the highest standards when it comes to roadway safety.
Bicyclists and pedestrians are incredibly vulnerable on the roadways throughout Arizona. The DOT shows us that there were 220 pedestrian fatalities and 30 bicyclist fatalities during the latest reporting year across the state. Unfortunately, vehicle drivers tend to ignore the rights of pedestrians and bicyclists on the roadway, and this can lead to devastating consequences.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins have shown that preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US. Estimates say that as many as 250,000 people lose their lives each year due to a range of medical mistakes, including surgical errors, failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis, healthcare-acquired infections, patient falls, medication mistakes, and more.
Defective products make it onto store shelves and into our homes regularly. Faulty products face recalls all the time, but there are still dangerous products that do not face recall. This can include toys, appliances, furniture, foods and beverages, automobiles, auto parts, boats, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, and more.
Property owners have a duty to ensure the safety of their premises for any person who has a right to be there, including guests, invitees, and employees. Unfortunately, there are times when the negligence of property owners or their employees leads to unsafe conditions that cause injuries or fatalities. This can include slip and fall incidents, unsafe store displays, faulty instruction, and more.
Accidents occur regularly in workplaces throughout Arizona. However, some industries are more hazardous than others when it comes to employee safety, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, etc. When unsafe work conditions arise in hazardous industries, the chances for fatalities increase significantly.
Anytime a person commits a criminal act and causes the fatality to another individual in the process, a wrongful death claim can also arise. These criminal actions can include assault, sexual assault, robbery, and more.