If you lost a loved one in a deadly accident in Cocoa, FL, contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law for legal advice right away. Your family may be entitled to hold the responsible party liable for your losses. An experienced Cocoa wrongful death lawyer can help you fight to recover compensation for lost financial support, medical bills, pain, trauma, and more.
With 100 years of experience between us, we have the skills to help you take on the insurance companies and defense lawyers. We’ve already recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations with a Coco wrongful death attorney so that you can get the help you need. Call our law offices in Cocoa, Florida, to schedule your free consultation today at (321) 517-2079.
How Can Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Help With Your Family’s Cocoa Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death claims are particularly challenging. The victim isn’t here to tell their story. That can make it more difficult to establish liability. It also means the other side is likely to blame the victim for their own tragic death.
As a surviving family member, you deserve justice. It’s important to hire an experienced Cocoa personal injury lawyer who knows how to develop the strongest possible claim for compensation.
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law can help.
While you’re taking care of yourself and your family, our team will be working hard to:
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation and locate evidence
- Identify all sources of compensation, including insurance and all liable parties
- Document the damages your family has suffered
- Hire leading experts who can testify about complicated issues
- Develop strategies to disprove any allegations that your loved one shared fault
- Negotiate for a full and fair insurance settlement
- Prepare to take your case to trial if necessary
To learn more about how we can help in Cocoa, FL, call our Cocoa personal injury attorneys for a free case review today.
What Is a Wrongful Death in Florida?
The Florida Wrongful Death Act governs wrongful death claims in Florida. Under Florida law, a wrongful death is any death caused by “the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person”.
Your loved one could have pursued compensation had they survived their injuries. Because those injuries were fatal, survivors received the right to take legal action.
Wrongful death cases are similar to personal injury claims. They’re handled in civil court if the responsible party or their insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement. When a family is successful, the remedy is financial compensation.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Valid Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death can occur in many different situations. Most claims involve accidents. Anytime an accident occurs, there is a risk of severe injury and death.
For example, you could have a valid wrongful death claim if:
- A negligent driver caused a fatal motor vehicle accident
- A manufacturer sold your loved one a defective product that caused their death
- Your loved one’s doctor made a critical mistake during surgery
- Your loved one fell down a flight of crumbling stairs and suffered a fatal brain injury
An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options. If you lost a loved one and it was someone else’s fault, contact us today for a free case review.
How Does the Wrongful Death Claims Process Work?
In Florida, the victim’s personal representative is responsible for filing the wrongful death lawsuit. The compensation that is recovered on behalf of the victim’s survivors.
Those survivors include:
- A spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Blood relatives and adopted siblings, when they depended on the victim for support or services
Our lawyers in Cocoa are ready to start building your case today. The sooner you contact our attorneys, the stronger the evidence is likely to be.
How Common Are Fatal Accidents in Florida?
Extremely common. Motor vehicle accidents are a significant cause of fatal injuries in the state of Florida. 2,714 fatal traffic accidents were reported in the first 11 months of 2024 alone. 78 of those fatal crashes were in Brevard County.
Of course, car wrecks aren’t the only basis for a wrongful death claim. 307 workers were injured in fatal workplace accidents during 2022. 4,380 Floridians died in fatal fall accidents in 2023. 167 of those deaths were in Brevard County.
What Is My Cocoa Wrongful Death Case Worth?
It’s always difficult to break down the value of life into dollars and cents. That said, understanding your case value is critical to getting a fair compensation award.
Our lawyers evaluate many different issues when we’re assessing the value of wrongful death claims, including:
- Your family’s financial losses
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy
- Your loved one’s earning capacity, based on prior earnings, education, work history, etc.
- The ages and identities of surviving dependents
- The ways your family has suffered due to your loss
- How your loved one contributed to their family and household
Every wrongful death claim is unique. While the outcome is always a tragic loss, all victims are unique. Their families suffer in different ways. That’s why it’s important to sit down with a lawyer and let them evaluate the facts of your specific case.
What Types of Damages Are Available If My Loved One Was Killed Due to Someone Else’s Acts in Cocoa?
Many different types of compensation may be available to your family. It’s important to account for all economic and non-economic damages that your family has experienced.
Some examples of the types of damages available under Florida wrongful death laws include:
- Loss of the victim’s financial support between the date of injury and the date of death, with interest
- Loss of future financial support, reduced to current value
- Loss of the victim’s household services
- Loss of “net accumulations,” or loss of inheritance
- Mental pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium or loss of a spouse’s companionship
- Loss of parental guidance, instruction, and support
- Medical expenses incurred prior to your loved one’s death
- Funeral expenses
The victim’s personal representative can also seek compensation for the victim’s lost earnings between the date of injury and the date of death.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Florida?
Our attorneys in Cocoa work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you’ll only pay attorneys’ fees once your case has been resolved. If we successfully recover damages in your case, we take a fixed percentage of that compensation award.
Can I Recover Damages If My Loved One is Being Blamed for a Fatal Accident in Florida?
Florida operates under a modified comparative negligence law. Victims lose their right to recover compensation if they’re more than 50% responsible for their own injuries. When victims share some blame but less than 51%, their compensation is reduced to account for their share of fault.
This law applies in both personal injury and wrongful death cases. While it’s not always fair, fatal accident victims are often blamed for their own death. If someone is blaming your loved one, it’s important to have a skilled attorney to help you fight back.
Our Cocoa Wrongful Death Attorneys Will Handle All Types of Wrongful Death Claims
Our team at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law is equipped to handle any type of wrongful death claim, including cases involving fatal:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Assaults and attacks
You deserve to understand your legal options after a fatal accident. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our lawyers in Cocoa if you lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions or neglect.
How Do I Prove My Wrongful Death Case After a Fatal Accident in Florida?
Most survivors must prove negligence to recover damages in a wrongful death case.
Negligence means:
- A defendant owed your loved one a duty of care
- They breached their duty
- Their breach directly caused your loved one’s death
- Your family suffered damages
The evidence needed to prove your case will depend on the circumstances of your loved one’s death. Our lawyers have the resources to uncover all evidence to prove your case. The sooner we start investigating, the better.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Deadly Accident in Florida?
In wrongful death cases, the statute of limitations is two years. Under state law, you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a lawsuit. Once the two-year period is up, your family cannot seek compensation.
Contact a Cocoa Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Case Review
The parties who were responsible for your loved one’s death in Cocoa, FL, should be held accountable. Our team at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law is ready to fight for justice. Contact an experienced Cocoa wrongful death lawyer to arrange a free consultation today.