Wrongful Death and Corporate Liability: Holding Companies Accountable for Their Actions
Posted in Wrongful death on March 23, 2023
Wrongful death claims arise in many different ways, including the negligent or intentional actions of companies. However, is it possible to hold companies accountable for their negligent actions? Here, we want to discuss corporate liability and wrongful death claims in Tennessee. It is crucial for individuals to understand their options moving forward with wrongful death claims against other parties in order to recover closure and compensation.
How Could a Company be Liable for Wrongful Death?
There may be various ways that companies could be responsible for a person’s death. Civil wrongful death claims can arise in a number of ways, including the negligent actions of companies and their employees. This includes, but is not limited to, the following types of scenarios:
- A property owner failing to ensure their premises is free from known hazards
- Companies allowing defective products to reach the market
- Medical facilities failing to supervise their employees
- Vehicle accidents that occur involving company vehicles
This is certainly not a complete list of the scenarios that could lead to a company being held responsible for a wrongful death. If you have any questions about which party or parties should be held liable for your loved one’s death, we encourage you to reach out to a skilled wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.
Even though you may have an understanding of who is responsible for your loved one’s death, there may be other factors that you are currently unaware of. A skilled lawyer will conduct a complete investigation into the case in order to uncover all possible viable parties. Even if a single individual is directly responsible for causing your loved one’s death, that individual may work for a company that has vicarious liability.
How to File a Lawsuit Against a Negligence Company
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is challenging. First, the filing deadline for a wrongful death claim in Tennessee is only one year from the date of death. It is crucial to start the process of filing a wrongful death claim very soon after the death occurs. This can be tough, particularly if an investigation has not yet concluded.
When you work with a lawyer, they will be responsible for determining which party or parties to file the claim against. Even though the wrongful death claim may be filed against the individual responsible for causing the death, the claim may also include that individual’s employer or another company that shared partial responsibility for the death.
Compensation Paid to Family Members
If a wrongful death claim against an individual or company is successful, family members and the estate of the deceased will likely be able to recover various types of compensation for their losses. This includes not only medical bills and lost wages but also non-economic damages such as the loss of companionship, love, guidance, and care the deceased would have provided their family had they lived.
If there is a possibility of holding a company responsible for the wrongful death in Nashville, Tennessee, this must be explored. Typically, larger companies and corporations have enhanced insurance policies to protect themselves, which means there is a possibility of recovering more compensation than would have been recoverable if the claim had been filed against a single individual.