If you lost a loved one due to someone’s reckless or negligent behavior, you have the right to pursue justice on their behalf through a wrongful death claim. An experienced Florida wrongful death attorney from Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath can help you through this difficult and confusing time. When you work with us, you’re working with a team of experts with a history of obtaining full compensation for clients. To schedule your free no-obligation case review, call us at (561) 655-1990 or contact us online. In order to be valid, a wrongful death suit must meet the guidelines outlined in Florida law. These laws state that a person’s death must be “caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default or breach of contract” of another party. The estate of the deceased may bring a civil wrongful death lawsuit before the courts to seek damages for the loss of their loved one. Just about any kind of accident that can lead to a severe injury can also result in wrongful death. Examples include the following. Car accidents cause terrible impacts that can kill a person instantly. Most of the time these accidents occur due to negligence on the part of another driver. Truck accidents are even more devastating than car crashes. Commercial trucks are so much larger than passenger vehicles (some weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds). Several parties may be to blame for a truck crash. When the carelessness of a doctor or other medical professional leads to death, the surviving family members may be entitled to significant compensation. Workplace accidents can be fatal, especially when heavy machinery is involved. If that machinery is defective, the survivors of the deceased may be able to take action against the manufacturer. Manufacturers have a duty to warn users of potentially dangerous substances about the potential risks. When they fail to meet that duty, they could face a potentially damaging lawsuit. If you’ve lost a loved one, you’re likely going through significant emotional and financial challenges. A Florida wrongful death lawyer can help you determine if your situation qualifies for a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death cases in Florida require proof of negligence. Evidence must prove: You will also need to determine if you qualify to file a wrongful death claim. In Florida, wrongful death claims can only be made by those directly related to the deceased. For example, spouses, children (adopted or biological), or other biological/adopted relatives can benefit from a claim. However, a best friend or boss cannot file this type of lawsuit. Since only immediate family members can file a wrongful death claim, amassing this evidence in the wake of a tragedy can be difficult and even traumatic. We’re here to help you work through this challenging time. If you have any concerns or suspicions that your loved one’s death might have been caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another, please contact one of our Florida personal injury lawyers for further consultation and assistance. Be aware that you have a limited window to file your wrongful death case. Florida has a two-year statute of limitations from the date of death. If you do not file your wrongful death case within this time, you risk losing your right to seek compensation. Wrongful death lawsuits are like any other civil lawsuit for damages in that you can claim three types of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages can be recovered for anything that costs you financially. These are any bills due to the accident, lost wages, or property damage that you had to pay out of pocket for. In the case of wrongful death, you can seek future economic damages as well. These cover finances lost due to the death of a loved one who provided for the household. For example, you can seek economic damages for: Non-economic damages refer to losses that don’t come with a receipt. These cannot be quantified with a bill, but rather have ongoing consequences. Typically, they involve emotional trauma due to the loss of a loved one and their companionship. Examples of non-economic damages you can seek are: There are a lot of reasons why you’ll need the help of a Florida personal injury lawyer when pursuing a wrongful death claim. Maybe the most important is that this type of case is incredibly complex because there could be several parties to blame for your loss. These are just a few examples of those who could be potentially liable. Your family member may have passed away due to a car crash that was someone else’s fault. If this is the case, you’ll be pursuing compensation from that at-fault driver’s insurance company. If a truck accident caused their death, there could be several people and entities you’ll need to sue. These include the truck driver, the company that owns the truck, the driver’s employer, the loading company, and many more. An experienced wrongful death attorney in Florida can investigate to determine all responsible parties. Medical professionals have a duty of care to provide the best possible treatment to their patients. Failure to do so can be fatal. A surgeon could have made a mistake, or a nurse could have negligently given too much medication. The family members could take action against the negligent medical professional as well as the facility where the harm occurred. If your loved one died due to murder or another crime, the person committing that crime may face long imprisonment, however, you could also file a suit against them to recover financial damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. Any manufacturer that causes death by producing a dangerous or defective product could face substantial liability. A wrongful death attorney in Florida will perform a thorough investigation and make sure that the company faces full accountability for its negligence. The payment of wrongful death settlements can be complex. If, for example, the deceased had no children, determining which family members are eligible for compensation can be challenging. In other instances, such as if there is only a surviving spouse, the process might be much easier. In either case, you’re going to need the help of a skilled wrongful death attorney in Florida. The law firm of Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath works on a “contingency fee basis.” That simply means you won’t pay anything unless we achieve a successful result on your behalf. Our firm will pay for the investigation, any documentation we need to prepare, and much more. If we’re successful, we’ll receive a percentage of your compensation. You won’t have to worry about paying anything out of pocket during your case. This allows you to concentrate on healing from your terrible loss while we take care of everything else. At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, we do everything we can to make complicated legal issues as simple as possible. We offer several options for learning more about wrongful death cases in Florida. Call us at (561) 655-1990 or use our online form to ask any questions you may have with one of our knowledgeable representatives. West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyer Boca Raton wrongful death lawyer
What Florida defines as wrongful death
Common accidents resulting in wrongful death
Car accidents
Truck accidents
Medical malpractice
Workplace accidents
Accidental poisoning and overdose
Important things to know about your wrongful death case
Who has the right to file
Deadline to file
What damages may be claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit?
Economic
Non-economic
Who may be liable in your wrongful death case
At-fault drivers
Medical providers
Criminal offenders
Defective or dangerous product manufacturers
How wrongful death settlements are paid out
Cost of hiring a Florida wrongful death attorney
Contact an experienced Florida wrongful death lawyer today
Areas we serve
Evidence Must Prove
- Duty: The person held liable had a responsibility of “due care” to the victim.
- Breach of Duty: The breach or failure of the defendant to uphold that duty of “due care.”
- Causation: Prove that the breach of duty is the direct cause of the victim’s death.
- Damages: Prove the victim actually suffered damages (in wrongful death cases, “death” would be the primary damage caused, but there may be others).
Who can recover for wrongful death? Only immediate family members can file a wrongful death claim, and amassing this evidence in the wake of a tragedy can be difficult and even traumatic. We’re here to help you work through this challenging time. If you have any concerns or suspicions that your loved one’s death might have been caused by negligent or reckless actions of another, please contact one of our Florida wrongful death attorneys for further consultation and assistance.
Evidence you must prove in a wrongful death case:
- Duty
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages
Evidence you must prove in a wrongful death case:
- Duty
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages
How does a wrongful death claim work?
Wrongful death claims are civil claims typically made by the decedent’s family. Auto accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, and more are common scenarios resulting in a wrongful death claim.
A Florida wrongful death lawyer will file the claim on behalf of the family. From there, they will either negotiate a settlement or your claim will go to trial.
Important Things To Know About Your Wrongful Death Case
If you have lost a loved one, you are going to go through significant emotional and financial challenges. A Florida wrongful death lawyer can help you determine if your case qualifies for wrongful death.
Wrongful death cases in Florida require proof of negligence. This can be difficult to determine on your own while you’re grieving. Proof of negligence can be a toxicology report showing that a driver was legally impaired or a report showing that a workplace made your loved one work in unsafe conditions.
You will also need to determine if you qualify to file a wrongful death claim. In Florida, wrongful death claims can only be made by those directly related to the deceased. For example, spouses, children (even adopted children), or other biological/adopted relatives can benefit from a claim. However, a best friend or boss cannot file this type of lawsuit.
Be aware that you have a limited window to file your wrongful death case. Florida has a two-year statute of limitation from the date of death. If you do not file your wrongful death case within this time, you risk losing your right to seek compensation.
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What qualifies a wrongful death lawsuit?
A wrongful death lawsuit must meet the strict guidelines in Florida’s Statute 768.19. This states that a person’s death must be “caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default or breach of contract” of another party. The estate of the deceased may bring a civil wrongful death lawsuit before the courts to seek damages for the loss of their loved one.
Unfortunately, death by negligence can occur in a multitude of situations. This makes every wrongful death case different.
If you have lost a loved one due to one of the above scenarios, call (561) 867- 4117 to speak to a member of our team. Find out how we can ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
Our Florida wrongful death lawyers have helped clients seek damages for deaths due to:
- Medical malpractice
- Accidental poisoning, such as prescribing the wrong medications
- Workplace accidents
- Vehicle accidents, typically due to impaired drivers
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Drownings
- Premises liability accidents, when property owners fail to maintain their property for their visitors’ safety
How hard is it to prove wrongful death?
To prove wrongful death, you must prove three elements in order to recover damages: duty of care, breach of duty, and causation.
Duty of Care
The plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty of care to the deceased. The defendant’s duty of care can result from their work, societal norms, a reasonable expectation of safety at work, or obeying laws.
For example, a doctor has a duty of care to provide their patients with quality medical care. Or, a driver has a duty of care to obey the rules of the road, such as the speed limit or driving sober.
Breach of Duty
Once the plaintiff has proven the duty of care, they must prove that the defendant breached that duty. Breach of duty cannot be proven before first proving that there is a duty of care.
Breaches of duty are when the defendant(s) do not provide the duty of care to the plaintiff. Perhaps they cut corners in building their offices, creating an unsafe environment for employees. This would constitute a breach of duty, as an employer is expected to provide a safe workplace.
Causation
The third step is to prove that the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused the wrongful death of the plaintiff. The defendant can only be found liable if their negligent actions are what was responsible for the plaintiff’s death.
For example, if the defendant was speeding, but the accident was ultimately caused by a mechanical failure in the plaintiff’s brakes, then the defendant did not directly cause the accident. Their breach of duty may have increased both parties’ injuries, but the accident would have happened regardless of their involvement.
Damages
Once you have proven that the duty of care was breached, directly causing the accident that led to the wrongful death of your loved one, then you may be able to seek damages. You may be able to seek damages for property, personal injury, and the impact of the lost loved one.
While every wrongful death claim is different, our Florida wrongful death lawyers can help you estimate the amount of damages that you can seek. We know money isn’t as valuable as the life of your loved one, but it can assist you in recovering financially from their death and punishing those responsible for taking them from you.
What is the average settlement for a wrongful death lawsuit?
To get the settlement you deserve, you need an experienced attorney who can help you collect all the necessary evidence. The attorneys at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have handled hundreds of wrongful death cases, recovering millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.
We understand no amount of compensation can bring back a loved one. However, it can help cover medical and funeral expenses, loss of income, and other expenses and losses that otherwise would not have occurred. If you think you may have a wrongful death claim, please contact us immediately.
What damages may be claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit?
Wrongful death lawsuits are like any other civil lawsuit for damages in that you can claim three types of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic
Economic damages can be recovered for anything that costs you financially. These are any bills due to the accident, lost wages, or property damage that you had to pay out of pocket for. In the case of wrongful death, you can seek future economic damages as well. These cover finances lost due to the death of a loved one who provided for the household.
For example, you can seek economic damages for:
- Loss of a loved one’s income that they would have earned had they not perished
- Loss of income for the plaintiff due to care for the deceased, grief, and funeral arrangements
- Travel expenses of any dependents visiting the deceased before their death, if they were first hospitalized
- Loss of household or childcare services by the deceased that now create a financial burden
- Expenses for medication, hospitalization, or treatments
- Funeral and burial expenses
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not come with a receipt. These cannot be quantified with a bill, but rather have ongoing consequences. Typically, they involve emotional trauma due to the loss of a loved one and their companionship.
Examples of non-economic damages you can seek are:
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of guidance or care
- The deceased’s pre-death pain and suffering
- Love of consortium (spouses only)
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages can only be sought in specific instances. The courts believe that a person who has caused a death intentionally deserves additional punishment through punitive damages, over and above the economic and non-economic damages that they have already sought. This is meant to deter the person from committing the act again and shows society that this act is unacceptable.
Typically, punitive damages are only awarded in intentional killing wrongful death cases, as most cases are caused by accidents.
How long does it take to settle wrongful death claims?
Every wrongful death case is different, making it difficult to anticipate the average length of a case. In some cases, the claim can be settled within a few months. In others, it could drag on for several years. It all depends on a variety of circumstances that are not always within your legal team’s control.
On average, in Florida, a wrongful death case is resolved in one to two years. This length of time can scare plaintiffs into settling with insurance companies to avoid a trial. Although it is a quick resolution, it is clearly in the defendant’s best interest rather than your own. It allows them to skip discovery which could expose additional liability. Typically, these settlements offer far less than a court would award you in damages. In fact, their first few offers are likely to be shockingly low.
Individuals without legal representation may take these quick deals because they seem easy or they assume that it’s all they can get. Meanwhile, they’re leaving money on the table that they are rightly owed under Florida law. They may not even recover enough to pay off the economic damages, putting them in debt for an accident that wasn’t their fault.
Although wrongful death cases can be traumatic for a family and force them to think about the accident for years, it is vital that surviving family members consider the benefits of taking a wrongful death claim to trial. Trial is the only way for a court to lawfully determine negligence and award punitive damages that would otherwise not be included in a settlement.
If you’re considering filing a wrongful death claim, contact our experienced Florida wrongful death lawyers to find out how they can help you seek the maximum damages you’re owed. We’ll work to make this experience less painful and recover damages to help you move forward with your life.
Who has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Only immediate family members can file a wrongful death claim, and amassing this evidence in the wake of a tragedy can be difficult and even traumatic.
We’re here to help you work through this challenging time. If you have any concerns or suspicions that your loved one’s death might have been caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another, please contact one of our Florida wrongful death attorneys for further consultation and assistance.
Contact a Florida Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, we do everything we can to make complicated legal issues as simple as possible. We offer several options for learning more about wrongful death cases in Florida. Call us at (561) 867- 4117 or use the live chat to ask any questions you may have with one of our knowledgeable representatives.
Areas we serve:
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Wrongful Death Questions and Answers
What is the difference between medical malpractice and wrongful death?
Medical malpractice refers to any instance in which a medical professional provided a patient with substandard care and negatively impacted the patient’s health as a result. Claims occur for scars, loss of limb(s), development of complications or infections, adverse reactions to drugs, development of a secondary illness, or prolonged illness.
In some cases, medical malpractice can lead to wrongful death. In more severe scenarios, such as surgical error or accidental poisoning, a medical professional’s negligent actions can directly cause the death of a patient.
The main difference between medical malpractice and wrongful death is that medical malpractice doesn’t always result in death. In fact, most often the patient survives the malpractice and can file their own suit. When medical malpractice results in wrongful death, a serious breach of care has occurred. This can be the fault of the doctor, the nurse, the hospital itself, or a pharmacist.
What should I ask a wrongful death lawyer?
Accidental deaths are devastating for an entire family. On top of the grief of losing your loved one and handling their final wishes, you now have to consider a legal case. A wrongful death lawyer can help you manage the complicated filings of a wrongful death case in Florida, allowing you to focus on healing from your grief.
Your lawyer will be with you through a very difficult time in your life. It’s important to ensure that you choose the right one who can help take the stress off your plate and get you the maximum compensation you’re owed.
Research lawyers before you make your choice. Although it is good to hire a lawyer as soon as possible, you have the time to do some research and ask some questions to ensure they have the right skills to support your claim.
We recommend asking any wrongful death lawyer the following questions before hiring them:
- Do I have a case? This will allow you to find out what the lawyer actually thinks about your chances, what their strategy will be, and how much they think you can collect in damages.
- How much experience do you have in wrongful death cases? Personal injury lawyers sometimes take on wrongful death cases, although that’s not their specialty. This means that they don’t know as much as a wrongful death attorney. They could be leaving money on the table. It’s in your best interest to hire someone with years of experience personally handling wrongful death cases.
- What in the case could prevent me from winning? A lawyer with a strong awareness of a case can find problematic areas that could negatively impact their client. An expert lawyer will know how to overcome these issues. Asking this question gives you the opportunity to test whether or not the lawyer is an expert.
- Who will be working on my case? You may meet with one attorney, then have another assigned to you. It’s important to know who is actually responsible for your case. Ask for their contact information and how best to reach them. This way, you know that you can contact them when you need to.
- How long will my case take? No one can know exactly how long it will take to file a wrongful death claim and collect damages. If a lawyer tells you they know with certainty, that’s a sign of ignorance. This question also allows you to ascertain the lawyer’s workload. You want a lawyer who can give you personalized care and attention, rather than ignoring your calls because they have too many cases on the go.
Why do I need a wrongful death lawyer?
Wrongful death lawyers are here to assist you through a challenging period in your life. Grieving the loss of a loved one is physically and mentally draining, leaving you with little time or energy to handle an extensive legal case.
We want to ensure that you do not suffer financially. Insurance companies will try to prey on you in this challenging period by offering incredibly low settlements that won’t cover your economic damages. We will fight to protect your rights to damages and ensure that you have the space to grieve your loved one properly.
Will insurance companies compensate for wrongful death?
It depends on whether or not the defendant has an insurance policy that covers wrongful death. Some policies don’t include this, which would force the individual to cover the compensation if they are found liable for wrongful death.
Typically, wrongful death cases due to car accidents or medical malpractice are compensated by the insurance company of the defendant. Car insurance policies regularly cover wrongful death. Medical malpractice insurance is meant to cover a variety of errors, such as those resulting in wrongful death.
As these are the two most common causes of wrongful death, it’s good to know that they have insurance policies to ensure that you are compensated for your loss.
Should I involve the police in my wrongful death claim?
Police reports are often included as evidence in wrongful death cases. If the police were called at any time around the incident that led to your loved one’s death, you and your attorney will need to obtain copies of those reports. If the police were not involved at any point, your wrongful death lawyer can look at the specific circumstances of the case and see if any police involvement after the fact is necessary.
That said, wrongful death cases are civil matters, not criminal. Therefore, the authorities probably won’t be as involved as they would when prosecutors are pursuing criminal homicide charges, for instance.
What should I do if I lost my loved one in a vehicle accident?
If you have lost a loved one suddenly due to an accident, you have less time to process your grief. The first thing to do after losing a loved one in a vehicle accident is to take a moment, seek comfort from your loved ones, contact a grief counselor or therapist to help you process your emotions, and get used to your new life.
Although it can be difficult to consider investigating the accident while you’re dealing with your grief, it is vital to know the cause of your loved one’s death. If there was negligence, you may be able to recover damages for the unexpected costs and emotional suffering. This financial help can give you the time you need to heal without worrying about bills.
Contact a Florida wrongful death lawyer at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath for assistance.
Would worker’s compensation pay for my loved one who was killed on the job?
Worker’s compensation includes death benefits intended to help support the deceased’s family who have lost a source of income. Death benefits only apply when the employee dies on the job or directly because of a workplace injury, even if it is months after the injury occurred.
Additionally, if a workplace hazard exacerbated an existing medical condition that caused their death, such as black mold leading to an asthmatic’s death, you may be eligible for death benefits.
Wrongful Death FAQs
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath
515 N Flagler Dr, 10th floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
1860 SW Fountainview Blvd STE 100
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
150 E Palmetto Park Road Suite 840
Boca Raton, FL 33432
110 SE 6th St Ste 1410
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (561) 655-1990
Fax: (561) 832-2932
Español: (561) 833-1964
