A defendant can only be held responsible for a wrongful death if it can be proved that the defendant's conduct was the cause of the death. It must be proved that the death would not have occurred without the defendant's act.
The time between the defendant's action and the death of the decedent is not a factor as long as it can be proved that the defendant's action was the cause of death.
If it can be shown that the decedent was partially responsible for his death, then he may be found to have comparative or contributory negligence. Dependent upon the state in which the incident occurred, damages may be awarded based on the percentage of negligence imputed to the decedent.
Also, if the decedent failed to seek appropriate medical care and that failure led to his death, there may be no grounds for a wrongful death claim or a reduction to an award.
The sadness and loss of a loved one being taken from you is suffering enough; get the compensation you deserve. If a wrongful death has affected your family or those you're close to, contact Slocumb Law Firm. Our experienced lawyers fight to see that your loss is recompensed.
Don't delay: the initial consultation is free.