How Crime in Memphis Can Lead to Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Living in Memphis, we all know crime can be a big problem in our city. Sadly, sometimes these crimes can lead to the tragic loss of a loved one. When this happens, it’s not just a crime—it’s a wrongful death. And far too often, crime and wrongful death in Memphis go hand-in-hand.
If you’ve lost someone close to you because of a crime, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Understanding how this works can help you get justice for your loved one.
What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A wrongful death lawsuit is a legal action you can take if someone you care about has died because of another person’s actions or negligence. This can include deaths caused by crimes like shootings, stabbings, or assaults.
When a person commits a crime that results in someone’s death, the family of the victim can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person responsible. These claims aim to get justice and help the family with the emotional and financial toll caused by the person’s death.
How Crime Drives Wrongful Death Claims
Crime can cause wrongful death in many ways. It can include intentional death, but not always. Even if it happened because someone made a terrible mistake, it still may qualify as wrongful death.
These are some of the most common ways crime and wrongful death in Memphis tend to connect:
Homicides
If someone intentionally kills another person, the family of the victim can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
This is totally separate from the criminal case. Even if the person responsible is found not guilty in criminal court, you can still win a wrongful death case because the standards of proof are different.
Negligent Security
If a business or property owner fails to provide adequate security and someone is killed as a result, they could be held responsible. For example, if a nightclub doesn’t have enough security and a fight breaks out, resulting in someone’s death, the victim’s family could file a lawsuit against the club.
Similarly, businesses like gas stations, retailers, and others have a duty to provide security – especially for known risks. So if someone causes a death on a property where the owner knew they had a history of dangerous behavior and didn’t act to protect people, you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim.
Police Misconduct
In some cases, police officers may use excessive force, resulting in a wrongful death. If this happens, the family of the victim can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the police department.
As just one recent example of this, Tyre Nichols was a 29-year-old man who tragically lost his life after a traffic stop in Memphis in January 2023. Police officers pulled him over for alleged reckless driving, but the situation quickly escalated.
According to reports, officers used excessive force during the arrest, including pepper spray and severe physical violence. Nichols was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
This incident shocked the community and sparked protests across the city. His death raised serious questions about police conduct and the use of force during routine stops.
Nichols’ family filed a wrongful death lawsuit as a way to seek justice, get compensation, and call for changes in police practices to prevent future tragedies.
Why File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Just as in the example above, filing a wrongful death lawsuit isn’t just about getting compensation. It’s about justice.
Certainly, wrongful death claims can help cover expenses like funeral costs, medical bills, and lost income. They can help families rebuild after a tragedy.
But when someone you love is taken away because of a crime, the pain can go much deeper than money. It may feel like your loved one’s life was stolen away, and there’s nothing to be done.
A wrongful death lawsuit can help hold the responsible party accountable and lead to greater societal change. It can impact the way the world sees your loved one and hold the people accountable who caused or allowed the tragedy in the first place.
What Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
If you win a wrongful death lawsuit, you could receive money for:
- Medical expenses related to your loved one’s death.
- Funeral and burial costs.
- Loss of financial support if they helped support the family.
- Loss of companionship and emotional support.
- Punitive damages, which are meant to make an example of the wrongdoer.
Every case is different, so the amount you can recover depends on a lot of different factors. But those are some of the most common types of damages in these cases.
How to Get Help
Losing someone to a crime is one of the hardest things a person can go through. You don’t have to face it alone.
If you believe your loved one’s death was a wrongful death, you should speak with a Memphis wrongful death lawyer who can explain your rights and guide you through the process.
Our Memphis attorneys have helped hundreds of people get compensation after times of great loss. We’ve won awards for our compassionate care, all while fighting for you in your hardest moments, every step of the way. And we don’t win anything until you do.
You deserve justice for your loved one. If a crime has taken someone you care about, a wrongful death lawsuit might be the best way to hold the responsible party accountable and help your family heal.
Contact our wrongful death lawyers in Memphis to get started with a free consultation. Reach us online or call us at 901-327-2100.
We’re here to support you during this difficult time and to fight for the justice your loved one deserves.