Losing a loved one is always a tragedy. Financial difficulties you must face after the loss can make the grief even harder to bear. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover compensation and ease the financial burden on your family, and to do that, you need legal assistance from a trained personal injury attorney.
A skilled Lake Mary wrongful death lawyer from The Umansky Law Firm could help you seek compensation while you focus on your emotional well-being.
A wrongful death claim is similar to a personal injury lawsuit in that both are based on the negligent actions of the responsible party. However, in a wrongful death case, the injury is sustained by family members or dependents of the decedent. The common causes of wrongful death cases include:
Whatever caused a loved one’s death, a Lake Mary wrongful death attorney could conduct an investigation to identify liable parties and file a timely lawsuit.
When a person files a wrongful death claim, they may be able to recover several types of damages. Economic damages usually include loss of financial support, loss of future earnings, and loss of inheritance. They could also recover funeral and burial costs, as well as expenses related to emergency medical assistance that the loved one may have needed before they died.
Non-economic damages are related to the pain and suffering a person faces because a loved one passed away. They include mental anguish, loss of emotional support, and loss of companionship.
In some cases, the court may decide to award punitive damages, which can happen if the at-fault party demonstrates gross negligence or intentional misconduct. For example, if the at-fault party was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, they might end up paying extra damages for their illegal and reckless actions.
In Florida, only the personal representative of the decedent’s estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit. This representative files a lawsuit on behalf of the victim’s estate and their surviving family members.
To ensure fair distribution of the recovered damages, the personal representative lists all the decedent’s survivors when filing the lawsuit. Once the at-fault party makes a payment, the money is distributed under the state’s inheritance laws.
Navigating a wrongful death claim alone, while dealing with grief, could mean losing the opportunity to recover fair compensation. An experienced wrongful death attorney in Lake Mary could handle all legal action, including:
Working with an attorney helps avoid unfortunate mistakes and ensures full protection of the family’s rights.
Losing a loved one due to another person’s negligence is devastating and dealing with financial issues that follow it can amplify your pain. Meanwhile, handling legal issues while you are grieving is nearly impossible.
An experienced Lake Mary wrongful death lawyer from The Umansky Law Firm can take over legal matters so you can focus on your emotional recovery. To consult our legal team, please call us at any convenient time that is convenient for you.
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