Colorado wrongful death claims are usually brought on behalf of the deceased by his surviving spouse, child or parent. There are numerous wrongful death situations that are recognized by each state’s statutes.
Types of Colorado wrongful death cases include:
• Medical mistakes
• Car or airplane accidents
• Criminal attacks
• Work-related exposure to dangerous conditions or substances
• Death during a supervised activity
Workplace murder is the leading killer of working females, (35% of their fatal work injuries) and the second leading killer of males. The problem is especially acute in service sector industries such as retail establishments, taxi and limousine, police and security services. Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs face the highest on-the-job homicide rate of any occupation. In 2008, there were 19.3 homicides per 100,000 workers in these occupations, or about 39 times the risk among all employed persons.
Public police and detectives suffered the second-highest occupational fatality rate from homicide, 4.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers. The rate of fatalities among private police was 4.1 per 100,000; this was not significantly different from the rate among public police.
Ten most dangerous jobs in the United States:
• Fishermen
• Loggers
• Airplane pilots
• Structural iron and steel workers
• Farmers and ranchers
• Waste collectors
• Coal minors
• Roofers
• Delivery people
• Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
When a Colorado wrongful death suit goes to court, judges and juries will decide the amount of damages based on pecuniary injury. That means they will look at how much money the family lost in terms of support, services, lost prospect of inheritance, and medical or funeral costs. Damage awards may also include interest from the date the family member died.
In cases where cruelty may have been involved, the courts might also consider punishing the person responsible for the Colorado wrongful death. Usually, the laws regarding these punitive damages vary from state to state. An experienced Colorado wrongful death and personal injury attorney will be able to tell you whether punitive damages can be considered.
When a loved one dies unexpectedly at work, family members are always left in shock. Naturally, one of the most difficult things to imagine is whether the person died because of someone else’s negligence. But if this was the case in Colorado, you may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death case. With the help of an experienced wrongful death and personal injury attorney from Colorado, your case will be handled quickly and efficiently with the utmost compassion and understanding.
If your family has fallen victim to a wrongful death situation, you should contact an experienced Colorado wrongful death attorney for a professional legal assessment of your claims and to determine what legal options are available to you with regard to compensation for the emotional pain and suffering incurred from such tragic and unnecessary events.
