We Literally Wrote The Book On
Ohio Workers’ Compensation

Whether you are the victim of a workplace injury or disabilities, we can help you get the benefits you deserve.

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Wrongful Death
  4.  » What are the basics of a wrongful death claim?

What are the basics of a wrongful death claim?

On Behalf of | Sep 5, 2019 | Wrongful Death

An unfortunate reality of the American workforce is that many jobs are inherently dangerous. If a death occurs on the job, the surviving family members of the worker will likely be considering their legal options. That is when a wrongful death claim may come into play.

What are the basics of a wrongful death claim? Well, for starters, there is the obvious requirement that a death must have occurred. Beyond proving that, which is usually not an issue, there are several other steps that can become quite complicated, particularly in relation to deaths that occur at work.

First, there is perhaps the biggest hurdle: proving that the death at issue was caused by another party’s negligence or recklessness. In a death that occurred on the job, this step usually means that the surviving family members must prove that the employer was somehow responsible for the worker’s death. Next, the surviving family members must prove how they were injured, financially speaking, due to the death of the worker. Part of this step is showing how much income the deceased worker would have earned, if not for their untimely death.

Injuries can occur in all types of professions and, unfortunately, deaths can occur as well. When families in Ohio lose a loved one due to the negligence or recklessness of their employer, a wrongful death claim may be appropriate. But, each case is different, so anyone who finds themselves in this type of situation may need to get more information about their legal options.