How Do Wrongful Death Civil Suits Work?
In the U.S., people owe some basic duties to each other. The duty of care imposes an obligation on people not to do actions negligently, which cause harm to someone else. People are also prohibited form causing intentional harm. In many case, failure to fulfill these duties can result in criminal prosecution. For example, if you intentionally shoot and kill someone, you may be prosecuted for murder. A civil action, or a tort action, for wrongful death is distinct from a criminal action. In a civil action, no one is going to be sent to jail for the actions that caused the death. Instead, the person who committed the tort may be ordered to pay monetary damages to the person who was the victim of the tort- or, in the case of a wrongful death suit- to the victim’s family. The standard of proof in civil actions is different than in criminal actions, which explains why OJ Simpson was found innocent of murdering his wife but still lost the wrongful death civil suit. Wrongful death civil suits
