A wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the carelessness, negligence or willful action of another person or party. In these cases, family members can file a wrongful death claim in an attempt to receive damages and a sense of justice following an unfortunate accident.

In Iowa, a court may award damages for wrongful death if it determines that a “wrongful act produces death.” Some of the most common causes of wrongful death include the following types of incidents.

1. Car crashes

Unfortunately, car accidents are rather common, and they are now the number one cause of wrongful death in the U.S. Most often, negligent drivers who cause the deaths of others on the road are distracted, inebriated, driving aggressively or not following traffic laws.

2. Nursing home abuse

There are growing cases of nursing home abuse leading to the wrongful death of residents. Typically, a caregiver’s negligence is the cause of a resident’s death, but there are cases where caregivers have physically abused patients, resulting in the loss of their lives.

3. Medical malpractice

Medical malpractice can lead to wrongful death when a health care provider fails to give the accepted standard of care. These mistakes can be birth injuries, defective medical devices or improper medication dosages.

4. Product liability

Retailers, manufacturers or suppliers may face wrongful death suits if they offer defective products that cause the deaths of customers. In these cases, class action suits may result in damages paid out to large groups of impacted family members.

Anyone who has lost a loved one to a wrongful death should understand what type of compensation they should receive from the person or entity that caused the death.