6 Most Common Types of Wrongful Deaths
Wrongful death claims can be brought against someone who has caused the death of another person. This death can be caused by negligence or intentional action. Wrongful death claims allow people to file a lawsuit against whoever was legally liable for the death. Lawsuits for wrongful death are usually filed by a representative of the deceased person’s estate or a surviving family member. Wrongful death claims can be applicable in many situations. When a victim is intentionally killed, the family can sue for wrongful death. Car accidents, medical malpractice, and many other accidents that involve negligence can also result in a wrongful death lawsuit. Car Accidents The most common cause of wrongful death cases is, unsurprisingly, car accidents. There were over 7 million police-reported traffic crashes in 2016. In those crashes, 37,461 people died. In Minnesota, there were 79,215 traffic accidents reported in 2018. Of those accidents, 381 people died. That’s 6% more than in 2017. Of those 381 fatalities, 258 were motorists, 45 were pedestrians, 7 were bicyclists, and 58 were motorcyclists. Common Causes of Auto Accident Wrongful Deaths Auto accidents have a lot of different causes as roads can be a dangerous place. With technology becoming an extension...
Sand Law Attorneys Recognized As 2018 Super Lawyers
Congratulations to Bill Sand and Rick Sand for their selections to this year's Super Lawyers Rising Star List - an honor recognizing fewer than 2.5% of all attorneys. This is Rick's second consecutive selection to the list. This is Bill's first selection. Sand Law is a personal injury law firm with offices in downtown St. Paul and White Bear Lake, MN. Our attorneys focus their practice in the areas of car and truck accident litigation, animal attack cases, workers' compensation, and wrongful death matters. To schedule a free consultation call (651) 291-SAND or tell us about your case through one of our contact forms.
How to Bring a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Minnesota
On the night of September 26, 2003, 23-year old Brian Frazier stopped his car near a railway crossing in Anoka. Suddenly, without warning, a BNSF train came barreling down the tracks. The train struck Frazier’s car. Frazier and his 3 passengers were killed instantly. BNSF extended its condolences to all four families. But for those families, that was insufficient compensation for the magnitude of their loss. The families hired a wrongful death attorney and took their case to court. Their lawyer fought on their behalf for almost a decade. Finally, in May of 2012, a jury in Saint Paul awarded the families a settlement of $29 million, one of the largest wrongful-death settlements in state history. BNSF agreed that it would not appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court and that it would pay the settlement. Wrongful Death In Minnesota The laws which govern wrongful death vary from state to state. If you live in Minnesota and are planning to bring a wrongful death action, it’s important to know how wrongful death is defined in the state, who may file a wrongful death lawsuit, what damages could be awarded, and the time limits for taking action. What Is Wrongful...
10 Common Questions In Minnesota Wrongful Death Cases
A Minnesota wrongful death claim is a case fraught with emotion. Persons involved are usually filled with questions. Many may be intimate or will elicit emotions a person would prefer to manage in private. With that in mind, providing answers to the most common questions regarding such cases allows an individual to probe this legal matter tentatively, in private, before making a decision to move forward. 1. What is wrongful death? A wrongful death can be thought of as a death that shouldn't have happened, or wouldn't have happened naturally. In order to bring a wrongful death claim, the death must have been caused by negligence, purposeful act, or recklessness. Some common reasons a person might file a wrongful death lawsuit include their loved one was killed in a car accident, someone dies because of neglect in a nursing home, or if someone is murdered. 2. Who can bring a wrongful death case? Surviving family members who have lost the companionship and financial support of the deceased can file a wrongful death claim. In Minnesota this includes: Surviving spouse at the time of death Surviving children Decedent's parents if there were no surviving children Siblings if there were no surviving...