Do I Need to Retain Wrongful Death Lawyers in Big Pine Key, Florida?

A wrongful death claim in Florida refers to the civil lawsuit brought by the personal representative of the deceased estate on behalf of the immediate survivors of that deceased person. If someone else's negligence caused an accident, such as a drunk driver who slammed into your loved one and took their life, you and other surviving family members may be able to pursue a lawsuit for compensation. Wrongful death is a distinct legal process from any criminal cases brought against the person who caused the original incident. This will be handled as a separate criminal prosecution, for example, if the person was drunk behind the wheel.

Many circumstances that lead to fatal injuries claiming the life of your loved one could become the basis of a wrongful death claim in Florida. Including mislabeled products, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, negligent medical care, intentional criminal acts, or work-related incidents.

Compensation in Florida can be sought for several different kinds of losses in a wrongful death lawsuit. These include mental pain and suffering, loss of support services that the accident victim provided, and loss of guidance, care, and companionship that that person provided to loved ones. In certain situations, you may also be eligible to pursue punitive damages on behalf of the person who has passed away. This needs to be discussed specifically with your attorney to identify whether or not you are eligible to pursue punitive damages. Speaking with Big Pine Key, Florida Wrongful Death Lawyers as soon as possible, will give you the opportunity to get all of your questions answered so that you can make an informed decision about filing a lawsuit. No family should have to go through this difficult situation, and there is no amount of money that can ever replace the loss of your loved one. But compensation may be able to help you close this chapter and move on with your life.

The deceased’s estate is eligible to receive compensation for several different kinds of losses, including lost earnings from the date of the person's injury to the date they died, future lost income that the deceased would have earned if they had not been killed, pain and suffering that the accident victim experienced before passing away, and funeral expenses. These are very complex cases to pursue in Florida, making it even more important to have Big Pine Key, Florida wrongful death attorneys at your side to guide you through the process and to answer your question.

Unfortunately, there are many different ways that family members may end up meeting with a Big Pine Key wrongful death attorney. One of your family members may have died instantly in a serious accident such as one involving a truck, motorcycle, car, or bicycle. It might be the case that your loved one developed injuries and spent time in a hospital before experiencing a major decline in their medical condition. In all of these situations, it is the family members left behind who have many different questions. It can be very difficult for them to come to terms with the fact that their loved one is gone.

A wrongful death lawsuit can only be brought on behalf of the victim by the victim's immediate family. Including a spouse, children, parent, and any other relatives who were dependents of the deceased. Each survivor is eligible to seek the recovery of loss services value and support from the date that the loved one passed away, as well as the value of potential future loss services and support. Furthermore, a surviving wife or husband is eligible to claim compensation for the loss of their loved one's protection and companionship, in addition to any mental pain and suffering from the date of the accident.

Minor children experience significant losses in their life when a parent is killed in a preventable accident. Those minor children are eligible to recover compensation for the loss of parental instruction, companionship, and guidance, and the pain and suffering they have experienced. Every parent of an adult child who is killed is eligible to seek compensation for pain and suffering if there are no other survivors. You are only eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida within what is known as the statute of limitations. Typically, this is two years from the date of the incident.

More time may be allowed in certain cases involving intentional concealment or fraud on behalf of a healthcare provider. If you believe that you have a valid wrongful death claim lawsuit, you need to share this information with Big Pine Key Personal Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. It might be the only way for you to get support from an experienced lawyer to discuss your next steps and to better understand everything involved in pursuing a suit.

There are many different legal aspects of pursuing a claim for wrongful death in Florida, and not all of them are easy. Since most families living through this are doing so for the very first time, it is recommended that you hire someone who has extensive experience in guiding people through the process of pursuing compensation. 

Lawyers can handle many different components of your legal claim, including: 

• Investigating the basis of your claim 
• Hiring outside witnesses or experts to help build the story 
• Negotiating with the other side when settlement offers are made 
• Helping you develop a legal strategy for pursuing benefits 

In total, lawyers helping surviving family members recognize these delicate situations, but they also advocate relentlessly on behalf of victims. No family should have to go through this experience, especially when the accident could have been prevented. 

Every family facing the situation is in a difficult position. They likely do not realize all of the potential legal benefits available to them through filing a wrongful death claim. Some may be coping with severe forms of grief and even anger over how the accident happened. It can help to bring closure to multiple people involved, illustrate how the accident occurred, and show the impact that the loss of this person has had on the surviving family members. This is why wrongful death laws in Florida enable those surviving family members to pursue a lawsuit.

If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, contact the experts at Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We know how hard it is to face your current situation. Our practice is driven by trying to do right by victims who have experienced unnecessary injury or the death of a loved one because of some other person’s negligence. If this applies to you, contact our Florida firm today for better support with your next steps.