Losing a loved one is never easy, but some families have had to endure a death that was preventable or the result of someone else’s negligence. In San Bernardino, California, and the rest of the United States, families who have lost someone in a wrongful death accident should be committed to holding whoever is responsible for the death accountable. Although no amount of compensation can change a tragic fatality, taking legal action may be helpful for people going through this.
The family of a California prisoner who committed suicide almost 10 years ago recently won a lawsuit that was filed against the state. The prisoner’s mother claims that her son, who was imprisoned over drug possession, had depression and other mental health problems and steps were not taken to prevent him from committing suicide.
In their lawsuit, the family claimed that prison guards left the man unattended and he hung himself while his cellmate was asleep. In addition to responsibility for the man’s wrongful death, the family also accused the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation of violating his civil rights. They will receive $1 million from the state.
From a fatal workplace accident to a deadly car accident, the nature of each wrongful death case is different. Because of these differences, families who have decided to take legal action after the death of their loved one should thoroughly assess the individual details pertaining to their case. Furthermore, some families benefit considerably by contacting an attorney and talking about what they have been through.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, “California to pay $1 million to family of inmate who committed suicide,” Denny Walsh and Sam Stanton, Oct. 23, 2015
