When people lose a loved one as a result of someone else's wrongful act, the State of Florida has declared that the costs associated with that death should be paid by the wrongdoer, rather than the family of the deceased. Under Florida's Wrongful Death Act, the spouse, children, parents, or some of the other relatives who had been dependent on a person who suffered a wrongful death may bring suit and request compensation for their losses. If you have recently lost a family member, and you believe that his or her death may have been a wrongful death, you should contact a Florida wrongful death attorney right away. As you struggle with the emotional aftermath, you should not have to bear the full brunt of the economic consequences of your loss.

Wrongful death may occur in a wide variety of circumstances--including car or boat accidents, incidents of medical malpractice, and the use of poorly manufactured or badly designed products (in other words, defective products).

The survivors may recover compensation for any medical and funeral expenses related to the death, as well as, in some cases, for the loss of their loved one's companionship and protection. They may also be compensated for the future wages that would have been earned or saved by the person who died, as well as for the value of other services that they would have received from their relative. Calculating anticipated earnings may be difficult, and may require the help of experts such as economists and actuaries; the same is true when assigning a monetary value to the variety of services that relatives normally provide to each other without pay--such as housecleaning, transportation, or help with schoolwork.

In some cases, if the death was caused by a person or entity's intentional or reckless conduct, the courts may impose punitive damages as well--i.e. damages that are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from taking similar actions in the future.

There are specific time limits that apply to the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit (generally two years from the time that the wrongful death was discovered). Filing too late may block any recovery. On the other hand, families often need time to recover from the initial shock of the death of a loved one, and the bereaved family members have many thoughts that take precedence over those related to legal action. During this period, the help of an experienced Florida wrongful death attorney can be key to any future recovery. An attorney can take the lead in preserving evidence, finding and organizing the information typically required by insurance companies, gathering a team of expert witnesses, and generally setting the stage for successful negotiations or, when necessary, subsequent litigation. An experienced attorney can also guide families in situations in which it is often difficult to determine which people or entities were at fault and should be held responsible. While no one can eliminate the pain associated with the death of a close relative, an effective attorney can help keep family members from having to shoulder the resulting financial burden, as well.

At The Law Offices of Jamie L. Allen, P.A., our experienced attorneys, investigators, and support staff provide personalized and effective representation to clients throughout Broward, Palm Beach, and Sarasota County.

To schedule a free consultation that will address the specific circumstances of your case, please fill out and submit our online form, or call one of our numbers below:

Fort Lauderdale Office: (954) 793-4170
Sarasota Office: (941) 227-4350
Boca Raton Office: (561) 948-4384
Toll Free: (888) 954-3454