Losing a loved one is tragic. However, grieving a loved one’s death can be more painful if it is senseless or avoidable. If you’ve lost a family member because of another party’s intentional torts, negligence, or other wrongful acts, our Palm Bay wrongful death lawyers at Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers want to help.
Our Florida personal injury lawyers have over 75 years of combined legal experience helping injured victims seek the justice they deserve. We have helped thousands of clients recover millions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements.
Your family could be entitled to significant compensation for the damages and losses caused by a wrongful death in Palm Bay, FL. Call Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers today at 470-801-3000 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.
How Our Palm Bay Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Family Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim
You might not be thinking about a personal injury claim or legal action when a family member dies. You may be dealing with financial problems and other issues caused by your loved one’s death. Your grief may also prevent you from seeking legal advice.
A wrongful death action can help you in many ways. It can provide the financial means to pay bills and expenses that your family member would have been able to help with had they not been killed. Suing the party who caused your loved one’s death can also provide some measure of comfort and closure as you hold them accountable for their actions that caused your family member’s death.
At Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team uses our considerable resources and extensive legal knowledge to aggressively pursue wrongful death cases. Our attorneys are top-rated and nationally recognized for their experience and winning track record. We’ve received top ratings, awards, and recognition from various organizations, including Expertise.com, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Avvo.
If you hire our award-winning wrongful death lawyers in Palm Bay, you can trust that we will:
- Investigate the cause of your loved one’s death to gather evidence of wrongdoing
- Identify all parties responsible for your losses and damages
- Aggressively pursue all sources of compensation, including insurance claims and lawsuits
- Work with leading experts to gather additional evidence to support your claim
- Negotiate fair settlements and fight back if the at-fault parties refuse to pay a fair amount to settle your claim
Our Palm Bay personal injury attorneys at Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers are equipped to handle the most complex wrongful death cases. We will devote the time and resources that you deserve.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced wrongful death attorneys in Palm Bay, Florida.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Palm Bay, FL?
A wrongful death claim arises when a party’s negligence or intentional acts causes someone’s death. Florida’s wrongful death laws give families a cause of action to sue the responsible parties for damages if the deceased person would have been able to file a personal injury lawsuit had they lived.
An action for wrongful death is a civil matter. However, criminal charges could also be filed against the at-fault party if they violated Florida criminal statutes.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Action in Florida?
The law specifies who can sue for damages caused by a wrongful death. Only certain surviving family members are allowed to bring a wrongful death action.
Those family members include the deceased’s:
- Parents
- Surviving spouse
- Children
- Blood relatives who depended on the deceased for services or support
Even though the family members have the right to receive damages, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate is the person who files the wrongful death lawsuit.
We Handle All Types of Wrongful Death Cases at Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers
Wrongful death claims are justified when the death is caused by intentional acts or an avoidable accident. In other words, the death would not have occurred if not for the actions or omissions of another party.
At Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers, our Palm Bay wrongful death attorneys handle all types of cases involving negligence, intentional torts, strict liability, and other wrongdoing.
Examples of situations that could lead to a wrongful death action include:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Defective products
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Premises liability
- Nursing home abuse
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Assaults and violent acts
- Recreational and sports accidents
- Construction accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Workplace accidents
We are ready to fight to hold the parties who caused your family member’s death accountable for their actions. Our legal team is dedicated to obtaining justice for you and your loved one.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Wrongful Death Claim in Palm Bay, Florida?
The damages in a wrongful death case differ from damages in a personal injury case. You can receive compensation for expenses related to your loved one’s injury, such as medical bills incurred between the injury date and the date of death.
However, you can also receive damages in a wrongful death claim that include:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of protection and companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of future support and services
- Loss of parental instruction, companionship, and guidance
Some cases justify punitive damages. These damages are in addition to the above damages. Juries award punitive damages to punish a party for egregious conduct, such as causing a death because of drunk driving.
Our wrongful death attorneys in Palm Bay will analyze all aspects of your case to build an argument for maximum compensation for damages. We’ll document your losses and work with you to gather information and evidence that correctly explains the extent of the damages you sustained due to your family member’s untimely death.
What Happens if the Deceased Person Is Partly At Fault for the Florida Accident That Caused Their Death?
The party who caused your loved one’s death might try to say your family member was at fault. Insurance companies try to shift the blame to the victim to avoid paying the full value of the claim.
Florida uses modified comparative negligence to apportion damages when a victim is partially to blame for causing their injuries or death. The family can receive compensation even if their loved one contributed to the cause of their death. However, the compensation is reduced by the deceased’s degree of fault.
Therefore, suppose your loved one is found to be 30% at fault for causing a car crash that resulted in their death. A jury award for damages would be reduced by 30%.
However, if the victim is more than 50% to blame for causing their injuries, they cannot recover compensation for damages. Therefore, if your family member was killed and was 51% to blame for causing their death, you lose your right to hold the other party involved in the accident liable for damages.
It is not right that your family member cannot fight allegations of comparative fault. However, our legal team at Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers can take up the fight for them. We’ll aggressively challenge claims of comparative negligence to protect your right to a fair and just outcome in your case.
What Is the Deadline to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Palm Bay, Florida?
The Florida statute of limitations sets deadlines for filing wrongful death lawsuits. Therefore, you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit after your loved one’s death, or you lose the right to pursue a claim against the responsible parties. Judges can dismiss lawsuits filed after the statute of limitations passes without considering whether the defendant is responsible for the person’s death.
The statute of limitations for most wrongful death lawsuits is two years from the date of death. However, there are exceptions. For instance, you must file a notice of intent to sue within six months if a government entity is involved.
Our Palm Bay wrongful death lawyers will navigate these legal matters for you. We’ll monitor deadlines to ensure you don’t lose your right to file a claim. Let Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers take up the fight for you and handle the legal issues so you can focus on your family.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Palm Bay Wrongful Death Lawyers
At Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have helped countless families receive the financial stability they need after losing a loved one. We understand that initiating a legal action can seem overwhelming. Our legal team and lawyers are here to get you justice and reduce the stress of pursuing a legal claim.
If another party is to blame for the death of your loved one, we can help. Contact our law office today at 470-801-3000 to request a free case review with an experienced Palm Bay wrongful death attorney. Your no-obligation consultation is free and confidential.