Losing a loved one is a tragic experience. The emotional damage can be severe, and the economic losses are often devastating. It is particularly upsetting when a family member dies before their time due to another party’s negligence. If this is the case, the surviving family members may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against that party. This is sometimes the only way to recover financial damages for personal injuries, such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
Dennis O’Neil was an electrician for Brite Lite Electrical Co., which had been contracted by the city of Waltham, Massachusetts to install holiday lights. In order to hang the lights, O’Neil used a cherry picker truck, which is a large truck with a small cabin attached to a lift that allows a person to work high in the air. O’Neil was reportedly seventy feet in the air on the lift when the truck tipped over, flinging him to the ground below. O’Neil tragically died as a result of his fall. He was only thirty-eight-years-old.
After his death, O’Neil’s wife filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Colvin’s Inc., the owners of the cherry picker truck, Brite Lite, and the Elliott Equipment Corp. The lawsuit alleged that the companies failed to provide a safe and non-defective lift vehicle and were thereby responsible for O’Neil’s death. According to Bostonglobe.com, O’Neil’s widow has been awarded a $1.8 million wrongful death settlement.
No amount of money will ever make up for losing a family member. But if you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, contact our Massachusetts wrongful death attorneys today at (617) 787-3700 to discuss your legal options in a free and confidential consultation. Time may be a factor, so call us today!
