If you’ve suffered the tragic and unexpected death of a loved one in an accident in Fort Lauderdale, FL, your family might be entitled to compensation. You’ll have one opportunity to demand compensation for your devastating loss, so it’s important to make the most of it. That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to call the award-winning Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyers at Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers right away.
Today, our top-rated Florida trial attorneys have more than 22 years of experience fighting for injury victims and families in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the Sunshine State. Recognized for excellence in civil trial law by Super Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and The National Trial Lawyers, we’ve helped our clients recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards.
When you need a win, you’ll want our nationally acclaimed civil litigators in your corner. Contact us today at (954) 361-3997 to our law office in Fort Lauderdale to learn more about how we can help. Your first consultation is free.
How Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Help Families After Fatal Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The insurance adjuster might appear to be sympathetic to your loss. They’ll tell you they’re on your side and invested in helping you move forward. However, their interests are not aligned with yours. The adjuster’s job is to find reasons to deny your family’s wrongful death claim or, if that’s not possible in good faith, to significantly reduce your monetary award.
You need to protect yourself against their manipulative tactics, which can be really tough when you’re going through the most difficult time in your life. Hiring an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney can set the stage for the success you deserve and give you the time you need to grieve your unimaginable loss.
Choosing Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers puts compassionate, respected legal advocates who will genuinely care about your family and your future on your side. We understand that money will not turn back time or bring your family member back to you, but we appreciate the impact it can have on your life as you begin to move forward, offsetting significant financial costs and serving as a sense of justice for what you’ve lost.
You’ll benefit from our full-service legal representation, which includes:
- A thorough independent investigation into your loved one’s wrongful death
- A careful analysis of evidence gathered during the discovery phase, such as property damage, video footage, photographs, medical records, forensics reports, and witness statements
- Collaborations with reliable expert witnesses who can provide key insights into non-legal aspects of your loved one’s death
- Ensuring that your wrongful death claim complies with applicable Florida law and procedures
- Anticipating claims of shared fault that, left unanswered, could prevent your family from obtaining a top-dollar monetary award
- Actively seeking the best possible settlement agreement during negotiations with the defense
- Providing your family with the support and advice it needs during the claims process
- Taking your wrongful death lawsuit to trial in Broward County, FL, if necessary
There’s a limited time to take legal action after the death of a family member in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Don’t hesitate to contact our Florida wrongful death attorneys for help right away. We represent families on a contingency fee basis. Our fees are directly related to the results we achieve, and you’ll pay nothing unless we’ve obtained compensation on your behalf.
Get started with a free consultation. Call our Fort Lauderdale law office today.
What Is Wrongful Death in Florida?
When you get hurt in an accident in Fort Lauderdale, you’ll reserve the right to file a legal claim to recover compensation from an insurance company or an at-fault party. The right to take legal action does not disappear just because a victim suffers fatal wounds. Instead, it can transfer to another party as long as their death is classified as “wrongful” under Florida state law.
Florida defines wrongful death as:
- Death arising from another party’s negligence, wrongful act, or omission
- Where the victim would have had the right to file a personal injury claim if they’d survived
Ultimately, any act of negligence or criminal violence can result in a wrongful death.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Fort Lauderdale?
At Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent families in all types of wrongful death cases, including those related to:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Mass transit accidents
- Aviation accidents
- RV accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Premises liability
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Assault
- Negligent security
- Product liability
If you suspect that an avoidable act caused your family member’s death, call our Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorneys in Fort Lauderdale for assistance. Our team can listen to your family’s story, help you understand the full extent of your rights under the law, and explain how our award-winning team can help you launch a successful and fruitful legal claim to get the financial justice you deserve.
Who Has the Right to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Fort Lauderdale?
Pursuant to Florida law, a wrongful death claim must be filed by the victim’s personal representative. The personal representative is often a close friend, family member, or personal injury attorney, either named in the will or appointed by a Broward County judge.
Survivors include the decedent’s:
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
Blood relatives or adoptive siblings who are partly or wholly dependent for support and services may also benefit from a wrongful death lawsuit.
Can Comparative Negligence Affect My Family’s Florida Wrongful Death Settlement?
Yes. Florida’s modified comparative negligence statute, which applies a 51 percent bar to recovery, will apply to your family’s wrongful death claim.
This means that your family member’s shared fault will affect how much – if any – compensation can be awarded in a settlement or jury verdict. Damages are reduced in direct proportion to fault up to 50 percent. So, as long as your family member’s comparative negligence did not exceed 50 percent, your family can recover compensation.
However, those damages will be limited. You could expect to recover 70 percent of the value of your wrongful death claim if your spouse was attributed 30 percent of the blame for a fatal Fort Lauderdale car accident in which they were killed.
We know that the insurance company will try to take advantage of the fact that your family member isn’t here to tell their story or defend themselves. We’ll step up and fight to protect their good name and your family’s ability to recover the full value of your wrongful death claim. If they are partly at fault, we’ll work hard to limit the extent to which they’re assigned liability by disputing expert evidence, challenging witness reliability, and presenting evidence that’s beneficial for you.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded in a Successful Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death claims are intended to help a decedent’s surviving family members cope with the sudden loss of a loved one. In turn, the types of damages that can be awarded are designed to further that goal.
In Florida, a decedent’s survivors can receive compensatory awards – including both economic damages and non-economic damages – for:
- Present and future lost support and services, including wages, income, benefits, and household services
- Loss of spousal companionship and protection
- Loss of parental companionship, instruction, and guidance
- A spouse, parent’s, or child’s pain and suffering
- Medical and/or funeral expenses incurred before the decedent’s death
Punitive damages can be awarded if and when your wrongful death lawsuit goes to trial. In these situations, a jury can decide that a punitive award is appropriate due to clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted intentionally or was grossly negligent.
How Long Will I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida law applies a two-year statute of limitations to most wrongful death lawsuits. However, the statute of limitations only begins to run on the date of a person’s death. This might not necessarily be the date of their fatal wounds.
You will lose the ability to demand compensation if you miss the filing deadline. Call Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers right away to ensure your rights are protected.
Arrange a Free Case Review With an Experienced Fort Lauderdale Wrongful Death Lawyer
You’ve endured an unimaginable loss because someone else was careless. Now, you shouldn’t have to struggle with the consequences on your own. You deserve compensation, and Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help you maximize your recovery.
Our Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyers have 22+ years of experience and a multi-million-dollar track record of success. We offer compassionate, client-forward representation that yields positive results day in and day out.
Trust us to go above and beyond to get your family the justice it deserves. Contact us today to set a time for a free consultation. Members of our Fort Lauderdale law office are standing by to help.
