As might be expected, the American legal system takes a dim view of people whose negligence or intentional actions result in the death of others. In many such cases, criminal proceedings will be forthcoming, with charges ranging from first-degree murder to manslaughter regularly being leveled.
There are also civil remedies available to many of those whose loved ones perish in such situations. The legal concept of “wrongful death” can be used to win judgments against people or corporations that contributed to deadly developments. By getting in touch with a wrongful death lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL residents who have suffered through such tragedies can frequently help improve their situations.
A Lower Standard of Proof, as with All Civil Actions
Criminal courts in the United States are famously designed to put the burden of proof squarely on prosecutors. Needing to establish the guilt of accused parties “beyond a reasonable doubt,” district attorneys regularly lose cases even where the facts might have seemed to point to culpability.
In civil actions, the standard of proof is significantly lower, and that applies to wrongful death suits, as well. Instead of needing to build an ironclad case, the plaintiff in such an action will only be required to establish a “preponderance of evidence” to prevail.
As a result, many wrongful death suits succeed even where criminal charges did not result in a conviction. In fact, even many families who had previously given up hope end up discovering that the legal system still had some form of relief to afford. By contacting a wrongful death lawyer West Palm Beach, FL families can explore where this option might be open to them.
Diligent, Determined Lawyers Are Ready to Help
Attorneys like those at Janssen, Siracusa & Keegan are always available to consult with surviving loved ones. As those who browse the website of such a law firm will see, there are effective ways of easily establishing whether a wrongful death case might be merited.
Simply seeking out such freely available counsel can easily end up being one of the most important moves of all for a grieving family or individual. While nothing can ever bring a deceased loved one back, financial compensation can make recovering from the loss far easier.
