When Compensation Isn’t Enough in a Tennessee Wrongful Death Case

by

Michael D. Ponce

Last Updated October 13, 2014 In Wrongful Death

When a loved one dies as the result of another person’s negligence, the family of the victim can seek compensation through civil litigation. But medical bills, funeral costs, or pain and suffering aren’t the only damages plaintiffs can demand through Tennessee wrongful death cases. Sometimes, families just want answers, closure, or even just to ensure another person doesn’t go through a similar situation.

That seems to be what one woman from Nashville is seeking after her son’s death. She claims medical staff failed to take appropriate action when responding to a medical emergency involving her son that occurred just after 3 A.M on Aug. 13.

The woman told News Channel 5 reporters that police and emergency crews responded to her son’s residence in Hermitage after receiving a call from a roommate that the man had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Rather than transporting the victim to a local hospital immediately, emergency crews left him at the scene because they were instructed by a doctor that the victim’s injuries were “not compatible with life.”

Paramedics were called back to the scene a short time later and only then took the 32-year-old man—who was still breathing two hours after suffering his injury—to the hospital, where he later died.

Now, his mother hired an attorney to help find out why transcripts of the calls to police and emergency dispatchers have not yet been released to the public. She hopes this information can be used to prevent similar incidents in the future.

At Ponce Law, we know how difficult the loss of a loved one can be. That’s why our Nashville personal injury attorneys would like to send our condolences to the mother of the victim and hope legal action will bring her the closure she is seeking.