Like other types of personal-injury claims, wrongful-death lawsuits can arise out of many different situations. Specifically, there are three circumstances that cause lawsuits more than any others: car accidents, medical malpractice and defective consumer products. These are the most common sources of wrongful-death lawsuits.
Successful wrongful-death lawsuits generally have at least one factor in common: They involve negligent or reckless behavior that leads to a fatality. Of course, there are many deaths that follow less common situations.
For instance, not many lawsuits include a plane crashing into a home. That’s what happened in 2009 when a plane flying a connecting flight crashed into a house, killing many of the passengers on the flight, as well as one of the residents in the home.
An investigation revealed that pilot error was the primary cause of the accident, and most of the families of those who died in the accident filed wrongful-death lawsuits during the past five years. Over time, the airline settled all but one of the lawsuits out of court, which is common. In fact, more than 90 percent of all personal-injury lawsuits end in a settlement.
Douglas Wielinski’s Family Decided to Take Their Lawsuit to Trial
The Star Tribune reports that Wielinski was in the home when the crash occurred, and he died at the scene. Meanwhile, his wife and daughter, who were also home, were able to escape before the home burned down.
Both women suffered serious injuries in the incident and continue to suffer from the trauma they survived. In the years since the event, they’ve tried to settle with the insurance company responsible for the airline, but the insurer may have attempted to settle for a low amount.
If you are looking for a personal-injury lawyer to help you find justice after the death of your loved one, let us help. At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC, you can rely on our 75 years of experience as you seek fair compensation for a negligent accident. We will guide you through the process with compassion and professionalism. To learn more about our services, please call 319-393-1020.
The Insurance Company Refuses to Compensate the Family for Certain Valuables
Wielinski spent his life building an impressive baseball card collection. Several years ago, he sold a small portion of the collection for $325,000. Even so, the insurance company refused to pay the family for the value of the remaining cards. WIVB News reports that this was one of the major reasons why the family chose not to settle. Other reasons include the fact that the insurance company maintains Wielenski didn’t suffer, despite the fact that the evidence proves otherwise.
If you believe that another party’s negligence was the primary cause of your loved one’s death, we can help you seek the compensation you need to pay for medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses. To arrange a consultation with a personal-injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids, please call 319-393-1020.