Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences one can face, especially when the loss comes suddenly and from a preventable cause. People lose loved ones because of the negligent actions of other people or corporations all the time, but that doesn’t make the loss hurt any less.
You may be able to hold the other party accountable for your loved one’s death by bringing about a wrongful death suit with a Plantation wrongful death lawyer. When you get help from a qualified and experienced lawyer, you may be able to receive the compensation you and your family need to begin the recovery process.
What to Do if You Lose a Loved One Due to Someone Else’s Negligence
If your loved one passed away because of another party’s failure to act responsibly, you may have a wrongful death case on your hands. After losing a loved one in this manner, it’s important to get in touch with a wrongful death lawyer in Plantation as soon as possible.
Finding a lawyer might be the last thing you feel like doing after you lose a loved one, but the sooner you get an attorney on the case, the better. A lawyer can help you gather evidence, file your claim, and be there for you with any legal questions. You don’t have to face this horrific situation alone.
The Difference Between Wrongful Death and Murder
A death is considered a wrongful death when a person loses their life due to an accident. In other words, wrongful death results from irresponsible actions that weren’t intended to harm another person. Murder, however, is typically defined as death that was intentionally caused by someone else.
Murder is most often handled in criminal court, while wrongful death tends to be handled in civil court. It’s important to understand the difference between the two in legal terms, as each comes with a different set of needs to prove guilt.
Collecting Wrongful Death Damages
In Florida, the people who can collect wrongful death damages for the loss of someone’s life are the deceased person’s immediate family. Immediate family is defined in Florida as a spouse, children, parents, or other family members who were considered dependents of the person who passed away. Each person who qualifies to collect damages can file a wrongful death suit to claim compensation for their loss.
Wrongful death compensation can be used to handle funeral costs, and it can compensate your family for the income your loved one would have earned. It may also be able to help with mental health treatment you or your family may need as a result of this unexpected loss.
How Long You Have to File a Claim in Plantation
The statute of limitations on wrongful death claims in Florida is typically two years. Not filing a claim on time could forfeit your ability to take your case to court and fight for compensation, so it’s important to file your claim sooner rather than later.
By enlisting the help of a qualified wrongful death attorney in Plantation early on, you can be sure that you won’t miss any major deadlines, and you will have someone to help you fill out the relevant paperwork.
Other Damages You Can Collect
Besides wrongful death compensation, you may be able to collect damages that relate to the costs of the accident as well as non-economic damages that come about when you lose a loved one. Economic damages may include the medical bills your family accrued while your loved one was in the hospital before they passed away, while noneconomic damages may include the pain and suffering your loved one endured before they died, loss of companionship for those left behind, and more.
Your wrongful death attorney can assist you in better understanding which types of damages you may be eligible to collect, and they will fight on your behalf to help prove that another party’s actions caused the death of your loved one.
How Much Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?
There are numerous factors that can contribute to how much a wrongful death case is ultimately worth, and each case provides a unique set of circumstances that can impact the outcome. Some factors may include the deceased person’s income and whether they required medical treatments before they passed away. It can feel uncomfortable to think about money after losing a loved one, but getting involved in a wrongful death lawsuit may help your family during these difficult times.
No matter how much your case is worth, be sure to work with a lawyer that can stand up to the insurance companies on your behalf and negotiate with them if they provide you with ultra-low offers in the beginning in hopes that you’ll take the money without a fight. Sometimes the opposing party, and their insurance company, will purposely try to drag out the case in hopes that it will force you to take a lower settlement. Your attorney can help you determine which settlements are worthwhile and which ones should be taken all the way to court.
Contact Us Today if You Need an Experienced Plantation Wrongful Death Attorney
While we hope you never need to get help from a wrongful death attorney, we are there for our clients who have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence every step of the way. At Eltringham Law Group, we can help you with the process of gathering evidence, filing a claim, and presenting evidence in a courtroom if the case doesn’t settle out of court. Losing a loved one to a preventable cause is agonizing, but we can help you get the compensation you may be entitled to as you begin the recovery process.
If you want to learn more about who we are and how a Plantation wrongful death lawyer can help you, please contact us today.