Main Causes of Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one too soon is a tragedy nobody should have to experience. Unfortunately, these incidents occur all too often in and around our area in Connecticut. Wrongful death claims arise when one person loses their life due to the negligent or intentional actions of another person or entity. Here, we want to review some of the most common causes of wrongful death claims in Connecticut.

Vehicle Accidents

Information provided by the Connecticut Crash Data Repository shows that there were nearly 85,000 total vehicle accidents reported in 2023 across the state. These incidents involved more than 205,000 individuals, and unfortunately, resulted in a significant number of traffic fatalities. The data indicates that there were 228 total traffic collisions that resulted in at least one fatality in 2023.

When we say that vehicle accidents are a leading cause of wrongful deaths, we are discussing more than just incidents involving traditional passenger vehicles. Also included in this category are incidents involving:

• Commercial trucks (18-wheelers, semi-trucks, garbage trucks, etc.)
• Motorcycles
• Bicycles
• Pedestrians
• Mopeds

Vehicle accidents often lead to wrongful death claims due to the actions of the alleged negligent party. Any time the careless or negligent actions of someone else cause a roadway fatality, a wrongful death claim could arise, and some of the actions that regularly lead to these claims include:

• Speeding
• Driving impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Aggressive driving
• Failing to use turn signals
• Failing to stop at stop signs or stop lights
• Tailgating

Gun Deaths

Though not as high as other states, Connecticut does have a fairly high gun death rate. Information available from the CDC indicates that the firearm injury death rate in Connecticut is 6.7 per 100,000 people. The Northeast tends to have a lower firearm injury death rate than the rest of the country, but Connecticut’s rate is still higher than every surrounding state.

Workplace Accidents

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks workplace fatalities in every state across the country. In Connecticut, there were 34 total workplace fatalities reported to the BLS in 2022. Nationwide, there were more than 5,400 total workplace fatalities recorded that year.

Dangerous workplaces are everywhere, and they can occur in any type of industry. Yes, some industries are much riskier than others, such as construction, fisheries, timber, and first responder occupations. However, fatal workplace accidents can happen anywhere if employers, coworkers, or third parties in the workplace are careless or negligent.

Medical Mistakes

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have stated in the past that medical errors are responsible for at least 250,000 deaths each year across the country. Researchers indicate that these errors are almost always preventable, and can include incidents such as prescription medication errors, surgical mistakes, failure to properly diagnose a patient, premature discharge, and more. Based on the research from Johns Hopkins, this would place preventable medical errors as the third leading cause of death in the country.

Speaking to an Attorney

If you have lost someone you love due to the negligent actions of another person or entity in Connecticut, please reach out to a wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. Wrongful death claims are incredibly complex, particularly when going up against insurance carriers and legal teams for the other parties involved. You need a legal advocate by your side to help you, your family, and your loved one’s estate recover the compensation you are entitled to.