Trusted Brandon Wrongful Death Attorneys Help Deal With The Burden

Experienced lawyers deliver results and closure for grieving families

The most tragic accidents are those that cut short a life of a loved one. The shock can be immobilizing. Then the grief sets in and you wonder if you will ever make sense of this loss, ever find justice or ever have closure. At Faught & Faught, P.A., we empathize with our clients’ grief and their urgent need to hold responsible parties accountable. We are ready to provide highly professional, compassionate legal services for your family. When you retain our team for your case, you can rely on our legal skill, while our dedication gives you immediate peace of mind.

How does Florida define wrongful death?

A wrongful death lawsuit seeks to recover damages in behalf of a person who died as the result of deliberate or negligent wrongful act. The suit pursues legal remedies to the same extent as the decedent could have done had they survived. In other words, if the elements for a personal injury lawsuit exist, a wrongful death action can go forward.

Who can file a Florida wrongful death claim?

Under Florida law, a wrongful death suit can be filed by the decedent’s survivors — namely, their spouse, children, parents and any blood relatives or adoptive brothers and sisters, who are partly or wholly dependent on the decedent for support or services. A child born out of wedlock to a mother is considered a survivor, but an out-of-wedlock child of a father is not, unless he has taken responsibility for the child’s support.

What damages can be recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida?

There are two categories of damages that can be claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit. One type is recoverable by the decedent’s estate. Such damages may  include:

• Expected income over the normal course of the decedent’s life if not for the accident
• Medical expenses related to the accident prior to the decedent’s passing
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Pain and suffering endured by the decedent prior to death

These damages are distributed to the heirs according to the decedent’s estate plan or the state’s laws of inheritance.

In addition, damages are recoverable by the survivors for their own losses, which include these circumstances:

• Survivors may seek recovery for support and services each would have received from the deceased from the date of the accident until the date of death, in addition to the value of future support and services starting at the date of death.
• Surviving spouses may claim loss of companionship and mental suffering.
• Children up to the age of 25 may recover for the loss of companionship and guidance.
• If there is no surviving spouse, adult children can claim loss of companionship and guidance.
• If the deceased was a minor, the parents are permitted to claim pain and suffering.

A wrongful death lawsuit can help you put this tragic event behind you, and give you adequate funds to manage without the financial support of your loved one. But you must not delay action. Florida only allows two years for you to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Contact our Brandon, Florida law firm for trustworthy wrongful death representation

If you are the survivor of a Florida resident who suffered an untimely death due to another person’s negligence or other wrongful act, you may be entitled to compensation. The determined personal injury lawyers at Faught & Faught, P.A. in Brandon, FL can help you obtain justice and closure. Call 813-681-4246 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.