Death may be caused by defective products, negligent medical procedures or treatment, and negligent operation of motor vehicles, or other acts of negligence and gross negligence. Those who cause deaths are not absolved of legal liability. Instead, wrongful death actions are lawsuits brought by dependents of a deceased person. Wrongful death cases allege that death was caused by willful or negligent actions of another person or entity and allow for surviving family members to recover damages.