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It is nearly impossible to move forward after losing a loved one, especially when that loss comes at the hands of another person’s reckless behavior. As challenging as this situation is, it can prove critical to have the legal support you need to protect your rights and get justice for your loved one.
At Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner, our Pinellas Park personal injury attorneys are the advocates you can rely on when times are challenging. We work with families to get answers. Set up a free consultation with our dedicated wrongful death lawyers in Pinellas Park to learn about your rights now.
Victims of personal injuries who lose their lives maintain the same rights as those who recover. They need an advocate to fight for them. When you choose to work with our Pinellas Park wrongful death attorney, you can expect us to become your ally in this fight. There are numerous reasons to choose our team.
When you decide to work with our Pinellas Park wrongful death attorneys, you can expect us to provide a free initial consultation to review your case. We do not charge you anything upfront; you only pay our legal fees if we win your case. Let us give you peace of mind.
Wrongful death is a legal claim that indicates another person, business, or entity is directly responsible for someone’s loss of life due to reckless, careless, negligent, or intentional actions. By filing a wrongful death lawsuit, the family seeks to get financial recovery of losses suffered due to the death. Many types of cases can result in wrongful death, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.
Proving wrongful death means clearly documenting what occurred, showing that the other party was negligent, and then documenting all of the losses the individual suffered and the surviving family suffered. The burden of proof is on the family to demonstrate that wrongful death occurred, meaning the at-fault person does not have to prove innocence. You must prove negligence.
Under Florida law, only certain parties can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party for the loss of life, which must be done within two years of the date of death. This typically includes a personal representative of the deceased’s estate. If there is a will, the person named as the personal representative in it holds that designation. If there is no will, the court will appoint someone to serve in this role.
The personal representative files a claim on behalf of the family members, including the deceased’s spouse and children. If these parties do not exist, the decedent’s parents can take legal action, and in some cases, other relatives may be included.
The objective of a Pinellas Park wrongful death lawsuit is to recover critical damages suffered by the actions of that party. In general, that means that anyone who suffered those losses has the right to seek action. For example, a child who lost a parent may face a lifetime of loss due to that accident, giving the child the right to seek action.
In a wrongful death lawsuit, it is critical for you to demonstrate all losses you have. Our wrongful death lawyers will go through every step possible to gather that information. We will look at all implications to your loved one’s loss of life as well as to your own well-being.
Potential damages may include:
These are examples of what damages you may be able to seek. The value of them depends on numerous additional factors, including the role of the family in the individual’s life, the level of dependency on that person, and the cause of the incident. The loved one’s age and earning capacity will also play a role in that value.
By working with our wrongful death attorneys in Pinellas Park, you gain an advocate who will guide you through the entire process. We provide our clients with objective, reliable legal guidance and handle every obstacle in the process.
This includes:
In the event that the insurance company refuses to settle fairly, you can expect our wrongful death lawyers to pursue legal action through a lawsuit filed on your behalf. We do not let them limit your ability to recover damages unfairly. We become an advocate for you.
At Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner, our wrongful death lawyers are the advocates you need in these challenging situations. We want to learn what happened to your loved one and get to work for you. You will pay us nothing upfront for our legal services. Set up a free consultation with a Pinellas Park wrongful death attorney at (727) 761-0340 to go over your losses.