Lake Worth Wrongful Death Attorneys
Accidents remain one of the top causes of death across the nation, and statistics reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal the extent of the problem. Every year, almost 214,000 people are killed because of motor vehicle collisions, other traffic-related accidents, incidents on property, and other tragedies. Surviving loved ones suffer significant losses through their grief, including financial and emotional consequences. You face an uncertain future without the contributions you would have counted on if the victim survived.
While a wrongful death claim may not bring your loved one back, you may find comfort in the fact that you have legal options for recovering compensation. Our team at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather has extensive experience representing clients in these cases, so we are prepared to fight for your rights.
Please contact our firm to set up a free consultation with a Lake Worth wrongful death lawyer, and check out some important information about the laws.
Florida Wrongful Death Laws
In general, wrongful death claims are similar to other personal injury matters in the sense that negligent acts are behind them. To recover monetary damages in a negligence case, you must prove that the responsible party caused the accident through a breach of the legal duty to exercise reasonable care.
For example, a wrongful death could be the result of:
- A car, truck, or motorcycle crash;
- A pedestrian or bicycle accident;
- A slip and fall or other incident due to dangerous conditions on property; or,
- A work-related accident.
Of course, the key difference in a wrongful death case is that the victim died instead of merely being injured. For this reason, the legal process for obtaining compensation is slightly different than other personal injury matters. Under Florida’s wrongful death statute, the personal representative of the deceased persons estate has the right to seek compensation on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, parents, and other distant relatives. This may be someone named as executor in the will or appointed by a probate court when the decedent had no will.
Compensation in a Wrongful Death Claim
At the outset, you should note that monetary damages in fatal personal injury cases are directed how surviving family members suffer after losing a loved one.
Our attorneys at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather will pursue all remedies to ensure you recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs;
- Expenses related to the decedents final medical care;
- Lost financial support the deceased individual would have contributed to the household;
- Losses related to education, guidance, love, comfort, and care the decedent can no longer provide; and,
- Many others.
A Lake Worth Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Advise You on Your Rights
As you can see from this overview, one of your highest priorities after a fatal accident is consulting with an experienced wrongful death attorney. For more information on your legal remedies under Florida wrongful death laws, please contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather .
We can schedule a complimentary case evaluation to review your circumstances and determine how to proceed. Call us at 561-500-HELP today.