Practice Areas

Legal News

Library

Do You Have a Wrongful Death Case?

For the past twenty years, the Norfolk Injury Law Firm of Breit, Drescher and Imprevento has been providing compassionate legal services for the injured of Virginia Beach and Norfolk. A significant part of our practice is dedicated to helping those who have experienced a death in the family that could have been prevented if not for the reckless or negligent actions of others. If you have lost a loved one, contact the Norfolk Law Offices of Breit, Drescher and Imprevento for a free legal consultation today.

Losing a loved one is a painful experience for anyone, but the worst sort of loss is one that could have been prevented. A death of a loved one that was caused by negligence, incompetence, and a lack of skill or a complete disregard for the safety of others is simply the worst thing that a family can go through, simply because if a few precautions were taken, the death wouldn’t have happened at all.

At Breit, Drescher and Imprevento, we offer legal services for those who have been physically wronged by others. Sometimes it’s an injury in a car accident; sometimes it’s someone who was injured by the actions of a medical professional. But wrongful death cases take on a different tone altogether in that the victim is no longer there to speak for himself. It is up to us to help the victim’s family through the emotional and financial hardships that inevitably come when a family member’s life is ended pre-maturely.

We get many calls and e-mails from Virginians who have lost a family member. In order to help them determine whether or not the circumstance of the death of their loved one falls under the category of wrongful death, we thought it would help to go over the basics of what constitutes a wrongful death case.

Examples of Wrongful Death

Reckless Driving

When someone knowingly drives twenty miles or more over the speed limit, or knowingly drives over 80 miles an hour, he isn’t just thrill-seeking. He is driving with a complete disregard for the safety of other drivers and pedestrians. If your loved one was killed by someone who was charged with reckless driving, you may have grounds for a wrongful death case.

Drunk Driving

This is even worse than reckless driving. In fact, the two are practically synonymous. If someone drinks to excess and then knowingly gets behind the wheel of a car, it is the very definition of recklessness. And it is especially heinous when someone dies as the result. If a member of your family died due to the actions of a drunk driver, this could be grounds for a wrongful death suit.

Abuse on an Institutional Level

Nursing homes and mental care facilities are often overcrowded and understaffed, and as a result some of the staff can be less than qualified. Abuse and negligence cases are sadly common occurrences in many institutions, and if they continue unchecked a death could certainly occur. Poor medical treatment, neglect, malnutrition and even physical abuse can and do occur, and if you have lost a loved one for any of these reasons, you may have grounds for a wrongful death suit.

Medical Malpractice

It is no secret that medical treatment in America leaves much to be desired. Aside from the nightmares of dealing with labyrinthine insurance procedures, hospitals are also over-crowded and understaffed. Doctors are also incredibly overworked. Interns and residents at hospitals go through extraordinarily long shifts and have barely any limits to the number of patients that they are responsible for. Mistakes or fatal delays of treatment are a frequent occurrence in many hospitals. Having an experienced legal team to investigate what happened is a necessity in determining whether or not there is a basis for a wrongful death suit.

Breit, Drescher and Imprevento: Working For the Injured of Virginia

While the circumstances for some wrongful death cases are cut and dried, others can be more difficult to prove. A consultation with us will help determine whether or not you have a case, or whether or not the settlement that you are being offered is a fair one. While financial damages are certainly part of a fair settlement, we try to factor in what insurance companies generally do not. We also take into consideration emotional damages and loss of companionship, as well as possible punitive damages if the cause of the death was particularly egregious.

While this will serve as a broad categorization of what could constitute a wrongful death claim, each case is different. The best way to find out if you have a case is to contact Breit, Drescher and Imprevento for a free legal consultation today.

Quick Contact

Videos

Case Results

Resources