Suffocation is a gruesome and unpleasant end to one’s life. It involves an individual receiving an inadequate amount of oxygen, causing him or her to become weaker and weaker until oxygen can no longer be supplied to vital parts of the body, causing the person to die.

Many people think of strangulation when they think of suffocation. While this is one method of suffocation, it is by no means the only method. Any situation that prevents an individual from receiving an adequate supply of oxygen can cause suffocation.

Some examples of situations that may lead to suffocation include:

• Tight, enclosed spaces
• Thin air (low oxygen concentration)
• Carbon monoxide inhalation

Any of these conditions may lead an individual to suffocate since he or she will not receive the oxygen necessary to survive. In some cases, conditions that lead to a lack of oxygen are caused by negligent actions.

An individual may have a responsibility to properly maintain a space to ensure that oxygen levels are not depleted. This may be the case in high altitude areas, which includes airplanes, since oxygen levels decrease as elevation increases.

These individuals may have been the cause of your loved one’s demise. Such negligence may warrant financial compensation, either from the individual who committed the action or from the entity for which that person works.

Though the families of wrongful death victims may not think to take legal action after losing a loved one, it is important to hold the individual responsible for your loved one’s death accountable. Before pursuing legal action, though, it is important to consult with an experienced wrongful death lawyer.