Did you recently suffer the tragic and unexpected loss of a loved one in Milton, FL? Was someone else responsible for your loss? An experienced Milton wrongful death lawyer at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can help your family fight to hold the responsible party accountable.
Between us, our attorneys have over 75 years of experience handling complicated personal injury cases. We’ve won over $200 million in settlements and verdicts in hard-fought cases.
Your family may deserve significant compensation for lost financial support, pain, trauma, and the loss of your loved one’s company. Our lawyers are prepared to help you fight for every penny. Call 850-790-7790 to schedule a free consultation with Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers today.
How Can Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Help My Family Recover Compensation for Wrongful Death in Milton?
Losing someone you love is never easy. The pain can be even more unbearable when you know that someone could have prevented your loss. While money can’t erase that pain, it can bring a significant amount of relief–especially if you’re struggling to make ends meet in the wake of your loss.
Our Milton personal injury lawyers at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can help you hold the responsible parties accountable.
We’ll work tirelessly to recover the full compensation your family deserves by:
- Digging deep and locating the evidence that can prove your case
- Determining who can be held legally responsible for your damages
- Calculating the value of your case
- Engaging experts when necessary to resolve complicated details
- Handling the paperwork and insurance details
- Protecting your family from unfair allegations that your loved one was responsible
- Negotiating for a full and fair settlement award
Many families don’t know where to turn for help in the wake of such a tragic loss. Our Milton personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way we can. Contact us today to set up a time to talk about your case and explore your legal options with a Milton wrongful death lawyer.
What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death in Florida?
Many people initially wonder whether they have a valid claim for compensation. If someone else was responsible for your loved one’s death, the answer is probably “yes”.
Under Florida wrongful death laws, wrongful death is defined as a death caused by a “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person.” Your loved one could have sued for damages had they survived. Instead, you gain that right as a surviving family member.
Wrongful death cases can involve a number of scenarios, such as:
- A negligent driver who caused a deadly crash
- A property owner who failed to keep their property safe
- A doctor who made a fatal error
- A person who attacked your loved one in the park
Wrongful death cases can be based on accidental deaths or on intentional criminal actions.
How Do Wrongful Death Cases Work in Florida?
The remedy in a wrongful death case is always financial compensation. That’s true regardless of the nature of the defendant’s actions and regardless of whether criminal charges are filed.
Wrongful death cases are similar to personal injury cases. Wrongful death cases are filed in civil court rather than criminal court. Most of the time, wrongful death cases begin and end by negotiating with an insurance company.
Under Florida law, the victim’s survivors receive the proceeds of a wrongful death lawsuit.
Compensation can be distributed to the victim’s:
- Surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Blood relatives and adopted siblings, if they depended on the victim for financial support
Formally, it’s the victim’s personal representative who files a wrongful death lawsuit.
How Common Are Fatal Accidents in Florida?
Thousands of families in Florida are forced to grieve the untimely loss of loved ones due to the careless actions of others every year.
4,380 people died in fatal fall accidents in a recent year. 3,138 people died in motor vehicle accidents statewide in a one year period. 306 Florida workers died in workplace accidents in a recent year.
What is My Family’s Milton Wrongful Death Case Worth?
It’s incredibly difficult to put a price on the loss of a life. When it comes to assessing the value of any given case, multiple factors can be relevant.
Some of the most significant include:
- The victim’s age and life expectancy at the time of death
- The victim’s projected future earning capacity
- The identities and ages of surviving dependents, including children
- The circumstances of the victim’s death
- Whether the victim survived for any period of time following an accident
- The victim’s own pain and suffering
- How the loss has impacted your family
- How the victim contributed to their family
- The family’s financial losses
The insurance company and other responsible parties will work hard to downplay the extent of your losses. You don’t have to give them the opportunity to limit the amount of money you recover. Consult an experienced attorney early on, and they can force the insurance company to take your case seriously.s
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida?
Damages in wrongful death cases can include economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Loss of the victim’s financial support
- Medical expenses incurred between the date of the victim’s injury and the date of death
- Loss of the value of household services the victim had provided
- Loss of parental guidance and instruction in cases where the victim left children
- Loss of a spouse’s companionship and protection, or loss of consortium
- Mental pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Loss of net accumulations or loss of inheritance
- Loss of the victim’s earnings between the date of an injury to the date of death
If your loved one died because of someone’s intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence, a court may also award punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish a defendant for their shocking actions rather than compensate for a specified loss.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer?
Our wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. When you decide to hire us, you’ll agree to pay a fixed percentage of the money we recover in your case instead of paying upfront fees for our legal services. That way, you can afford to retain a lawyer without worrying about the cost.
Can My Family Recover Compensation If My Loved One Was Partially Responsible for a Deadly Accident in Florida?
If your loved one contributed to their own death in any way, your compensation award will be reduced. It’s even possible that you could lose your right to compensation entirely. However, that’s by no means automatic.
Florida has a modified comparative negligence law. Once your loved one’s share of fault exceeds 50%, your family can lose your right to compensation entirely.
What Causes Most Fatal Accidents in Milton?
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we help grieving families in all types of wrongful death cases, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Assault and violence
Regardless of how you lost your loved one, you can count on our lawyers to determine who was responsible and fight for every dollar. Experience matters in these types of serious legal disputes. Our Milton wrongful death attorneys are prepared to fight for you. Call us today to arrange a free case review to learn more about your legal rights.
How Do I Prove My Loved One Was a Victim of Wrongful Death in Florida?
Most wrongful death cases are based on negligence. Negligence is a failure to exercise a reasonable amount of caution given the circumstances.
Typically, you must prove:
- The defendant owed your loved one a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty via some careless or reckless action or omission
- That breach of duty directly caused your loved one’s death
- The damages your family suffered as a result
Don’t hesitate to contact our law firm for help proving that your family deserves compensation. We’ll conduct our own investigation and dig deep to locate the evidence you need to establish your right to compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Florida?
You have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. This deadline is the statute of limitations. After two years pass, you can no longer pursue compensation from those responsible for your loved one’s death. The two-year period is a firm limit, so it’s always a good idea to consult an attorney sooner rather than later.
Contact an Experienced Milton Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Your family has suffered the type of loss that can’t be undone. You deserve to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. To learn more about how an experienced Milton wrongful death lawyer can help, call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to arrange a free case review today.