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 contributed to his own death and in that case damages may be denied based on his contributory negligence.

In a case of wrongful death, damages are imposed for the preservation of human life and are a deterrent to others to prevent similar wrongs. The amount of damages should be directly related to the amount of wrong doing on the part of the defendant. The damages are punitive and not compensatory.

If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a wrongful death, please contact George A. Moore at (256) 533-5770 or toll free (800) 240-5770, email gmoore@jmmtlawfirm.com or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations so please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.

Please visit Alabama Justice Center