Category: Wrongful Death

A wrongful death lawsuit is a claim against a person who can be held liable for a death.  A wrongful death can be the result of a fatal accident, negligence, or deliberate behavior.  Auto accidents, abuse, and medical malpractice are all examples of possible wrongful death claims.

When we think of medical malpractice claims involving wrongful death in Kentucky, we often think of mistreatment that occurs at a hospital or at the hands of a physician.  But medical malpractice can occur even in the moments immediately following an accident, at the hands of an emergency medical technician (EMT) that fails to administer necessary life-saving treatment.

Losing a loved one is devastating, but when that life is lost through the direct actions of another’s wrongdoings or an act of negligence, the whole world can seem like it’s collapsing. We’re left wondering if there’s anything we can possibly do to make things right—if it’s within our power to force the wrongful party to recognize the wrongs they’ve committed.

The operator of a boat involved in a tragic accident last summer has plead guilty to two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter; a tragic reminder that driving a boat drunk can be just as dangerous as driving a car.

The accident happened on the Hudson River last July, about 25 miles north of Manhattan. The group of friends included a couple about to be wed and their best man. The operator, also a friend, took the group out on a speedboat after the group had been drinking. They were headed to a bar-restaurant across the river.

The boat, a 19-foot Stingray, crashed into a barge around 10:30 p.m. There were three construction barges strapped together, near the Tappan Zee Bridge – and many have argued that the barge owners carry some blame for not lighting them sufficiently

A tragic July boating accident on New York’s Hudson River serves as a sad reminder of the importance of life jackets. When the driver hit a barge, two boaters died after being thrown from the boat. Both suffered head injuries and then drowned; neither was wearing a life jacket.

Life Jackets Save Lives

No one knows for certain if a life jacket would save them in the event of a crash. However, it is known that life jackets with neck supports can force an unconscious person into a floating position on their back.

As reported by WDRB.com, the construction company rebuilding the Milton-Madison Bridge received two serious safety violations and has been fined following the death of one of its workers. The Milton-Madison Bridge connects Milton, KY and Madison, IN, and Walsh Construction, who is responsible for rebuilding the deteriorating bridge, was fined $10,000 by the Indiana Department of Labor. The Department of Labor determined the company failed to provide a safe workplace and failed to properly train the employee operating a lift on the Milton-Madison Bridge Project.

On April 30, the 50-year-old worker operating the lift at the construction site was found unconscious. The brother of the victim explains that he was pinned between the top beam on the bridge, which was 68 feet off the ground, between the beam and the basket, adding that nobody knows how long he was out of oxygen. The man sadly died days later after being taken off of life support, and the family of the victim states they cannot receive answers from anyone regarding the fatal workplace accident. The Jefferson County Deputy Coroner does conclude that the worker died from a brain injury caused by the workplace accident.