As three more record-breaking fires rage across the state of California, we know that there are so many firefighters out trying to save lives and property. We tip our hats to the brave men and women who risk their lives each and every day to save us.
We know that firefighters have dangerous jobs. What many people may not realize is that there are also many non-firefighter contractors hard at work as well, helping in the fire suppression efforts.
Last month, one of those contractors lost their lives in the Ranch Fire when the vehicle he was operating crashed. He was assigned to fire suppression repair work.
While the exact cause of the crash has not been released, we have questions.
Was he properly trained to operate the vehicle? Did he have the appropriate safety gear?
We ask these questions because we often work with wrongful death cases. Whether the fatalities happen due to a work incident or to people going about their everyday lives, these unexpected tragedies leave people without closure.
If you need a San Diego wrongful death attorney, you can count on the team at Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP to be by your side.
What Is Wrongful Death
Wrongful death cases arise when someone is killed as a result of wrongful or careless (negligent) acts of another person, company, agency, etc.
These cases are not all the same, with each one having its own particular legal aspects that need to be examined. Here are some common ways we see wrongful death cases arise, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Please seek legal assistance about your case.
- Workplace accidents – it is up to employers to ensure that their workers have a safe working environment. They should ensure that all employees are properly trained and have the correct equipment necessary to do their job.
- Vehicle accidents – there are over 30,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents annually in the country each year. Many of these are the result of speeding, reckless driving, drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and inadequately maintained roadways.
- Medical errors – these are the now the third leading cause of death in the country, killing an average of 250,000 people a year.
- Faulty products – the products we use and consume every day can cause us harm if they are defective. These defects can happen because of a poor design, a manufacturing error, or a labeling problem that fails to warn consumers or give proper instructions on product usage.
What You Can Do
If you have lost a loved one and you believe it happened due to the negligence of another party, seek legal assistance now. At Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP, we want to help you figure out what went wrong and whether or not you are owed any compensation.
Our knowledgeable and experienced team will patiently work with you as we investigate your claim. We want to help you get closure. If you need a San Diego wrongful death attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling our office.