Wrongful Death

The killing of an individual by a willful or negligent act by another person or persons is called a wrongful death. If a person is killed because of the wrongful conduct of a person or persons, the decedent's heirs and other beneficiaries may file a wrongful death action against those responsible for the decedent's death. In order to sue for wrongful death, it must be proven that the acts or omissions on the part of defendant were the proximate cause of the decedent's injuries and death. This means that the defendant's wrongful conduct must have created a natural, direct series of events that led to the death.