A wrongful death legal claim can come about in a variety of circumstances, including automobile accidents, workplace accidents, accidental falls, and other types of incidents in which another person or entity acted negligently. Typically, a plaintiff in a wrongful death lawsuit must prove that the victim's death was caused at least partially by the defendant. Next, the plaintiff must show that the defendant acted negligently in some way, or was strictly liable for the defendant's death. Additionally, there must have been personal damages to surviving immediate family members of the victim. Finally, the victim's death must have caused some financial hardship to the surviving family. If a plaintiff can prove these four factors in the context of a wrongful death lawsuit, then he or she is likely to have a viable claim against the defendant. However, since state laws do vary, and the potential success of a wrongful death lawsuit can be very fact-dependent, it is essential that you contact an attorney in order to evaluate your case if you believe that you may be eligible to bring a wrongful death claim due to the death of a loved one.