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Anyone searching for a top wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT has to offer will likely know that these cases may be very complicated. It can be incredibly hard for surviving relatives to focus on financial and legal matters during their period of grief. When a family does choose to take legal action to pursue compensation after the death of a loved one, it may be essential to find an experienced wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT residents know to be both compassionate and effective.
At Rasmussen & Miner, we have helped many clients in the past obtain financial compensation after a traumatic injury. We are also capable of helping families pursue compensation after a relative has suffered a fatal injury due to the actions of another party. We know how emotionally taxing a wrongful death case can be, and we believe — as any respectable Salt Lake City UT wrongful death lawyer would — that the surviving relatives of a deceased loved one deserve exemplary legal counsel in their time of need.
While every case is unique, and every family may have its own reasons for filing a wrongful death claim, there are some common reasons why this legal action might be beneficial.
- Covering Medical Bills and Funeral Costs
This is one of the most basic and essential reasons why families may seek legal counsel from a skilled wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT can provide. Families might not have enough money saved up to pay for unexpected medical or funeral costs when a loved one is injured in an accident.
- Compensation for Future Financial Losses
It may come as a surprise that wrongful death settlements might also include estimated financial losses in the future. If a surviving individual was financially dependent on the deceased, it may be possible to include lost wages in the settlement. Other financial costs might include a loss of work-related benefits, insurance policies, or even an inheritance fund.
- Payments for Pain and Suffering
Finally, a major part of the typical wrongful death settlement accounts for something that is intangible — but still very real for the surviving individuals. The pain of losing a companion, a parent, or even a child can be excruciating. This part of a wrongful death settlement is not intended to put a price tag on someone’s life; rather, it should be seen as a way of legitimizing the pain of losing a loved one.
Proving a Wrongful Death Malpractice Case
In order to be successful in obtaining the financial justice a victim’s family deserves in a wrongful death malpractice case, it is important to remember that there is a legal difference between medical malpractice and medical negligence. Medical negligence is only one factor of a medical malpractice case. A medical malpractice attorney must prove the following four factors, or elements, in order to be legally deemed medical malpractice:
- The victim and the medical professional had a confidential patient-doctor relationship, which means the medical professional had a duty to provide capable medical care.
- A medical professional breached their duty to the victim by failing to meet the medical standard of care when treating the victim. A medical standard of care is what other medical professionals with similar education, training, and experience would have provided.
- The medical professional’s breach of duty caused the victim injury which resulted in the victim’s death.
- The victim’s death resulted in losses to their family. These losses can include funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, loss of financial support, loss of emotional support, and more.
What Type of Medical Negligence Can Result in a Patient’s Death?
Wrongful death as a result of medical malpractice can occur in a doctor’s office, hospital, walk-in clinic, nursing home, or other medical facility. A medical malpractice attorney may present evidence such as medical records and testimony from expert witnesses to prove that a wrongful death has occurred.
There are a number of ways that negligence on the part of a medical professional can result in a patient’s death. Two of the most common medical errors we see at our medical malpractice firm is delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Other types of negligence include:
- Infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospital-acquired infections kill 100,000 victims each year.
- Labor and/or delivery mistakes. These errors put both mother and infant at risk of serious injury and death.
- Missed warning signs. When a patient’s condition is declining, there are usually warning signs that medical professionals should recognize.
- Prescription drug error. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million people injured each year because of medication errors, many of them fatally.
- Sending patient home from hospital too soon
- Surgical errors, including operating on the wrong body part and leaving surgical instruments in the patient
- Uncoordinated care. When a patient has multiple medical professionals providing medical treatments, it is critical these professionals communicate with each other.
- Unnecessary tests, multiple studies show that there is more than $70 billion charged each year for medical tests that aren’t needed
- Unnecessary treatments. Giving a patient treatment they do not need can be very dangerous, leading to their death.
Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer Salt Lake City UT Residents Trust
When you need a lawyer your family can trust, Rasmussen & Miner is here to help. Our legal team understands just how devastating the death of a loved one can be. If your family has recently suffered the loss of a loved one, you might find that it’s both helpful and comforting to have a settlement to cover past, present, and future finances.
Wrongful death claims certainly aren’t easy, as any experienced wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City UT would likely agree. A capable and compassionate lawyer may be able to help your family through this difficult time. For more information about scheduling a case evaluation with a wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT trusts, contact Rasmussen & Miner today at (801) 363-8500.