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Wrongful Death Attorney Florida

Nothing can be more devastating than the sudden death of a loved one. If you have lost a family member due to someone else negligence, not only are you left behind to cope with grief, but you may also be worried about your financial future. While no legal action can erase the emotional pain you are feeling, speaking with an experienced West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Attorney can help you understand your rights. An attorney can help you hold the responsible party accountable and recover the compensation you need to support your family.

At Felice Trial Attorneys, we can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation especially if the untimely death was caused by the negligence or misconduct of another party and was entirely preventable. We understand the difficulties families face as they try to move forward from the sudden death of a loved one.

For this reason, we offer you free consultations and a no-win-no-fee service so that you don’t have to worry about the legal world and the costs involved in making a claim. Contact us at (561) 444-8822 to learn how we can help recover compensation for the loss of your loved ones.

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The Legal Definition of Wrongful Death in Florida

Wrongful death is a tort claim that arises when a party (an individual, business or government) causes the death of a person.  The legal definition of wrongful death is contained in Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, which can be found as part of Florida statutes, in sections 768.16-768.26 of the Florida statutes’ chapter dealing with Negligence. The act allows someone to can file a claim against the opposite party when any death is caused by default, negligence, wrongful act or breach of warranty or contract.

Wrongful death claims can be confusing and complicated for loved ones attempting to file a claim. It is highly advisable to seek the services of a seasoned Wrongful Death Lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL. Our attorneys understand this process intimately. We have helped many families recover compensation after the death of their loved ones due to someone else’s actions.

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Warning Sign And Bushes On Fire | Felice Trial Attorneys

The Elements of a Wrongful Death Case in Florida

Whenever an attorney files an action for wrongful death in Florida, they must establish that your case satisfies the definition of wrongful death.  This entails establishing the four critical elements of a wrongful death case, or your case may be dismissed.  These four critical elements that must be met in accordance with Florida’s Wrongful Death Act include:

  • Death of a person,
  • The death must be caused by default, negligence, wrongful act, or breach of warranty or contract of the at-fault party,
  • The decedent’s family member must have suffered a financial loss as a result of the death,
  • An estate must be set up in accordance with Florida’s Statutes and a personal representative for the decedent.
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Contact a West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Attorney for Help

If you lost a loved one due to a fatal accident, the West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Attorneys at Felice Trial Attorneys will thoroughly review your circumstances and advise you of your rights and options under Florida’s wrongful death law. If necessary, we will help you set up an estate so you can claim proper compensation as stipulated in the state’s probate law.

Wrongful death can strike at any time. Regardless of what causes this type of situation, the family is left to grieve their loss as they look for answers. The untimely death of a loved can also bring a significant financial burden on a family. At Felice Trial Attorneys, we can help ease some of this burden by ensuring you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

We don’t charge upfront fees for wrongful death cases that we take on.  That means you do not have to pay anything unless we obtain a financial recovery that you approve.

Felice Trial Attorneys

3 Harvard Circle West Palm Beach,
FL 33409

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the most important factors to consider when initiating a wrongful death claim in Florida is to determine who can bring the claim successfully.  The Florida Wrongful Death Act, under Section 768.20, clearly states that only the deceased’s personal representative is eligible to file a claim.  The personal representative files the claim on behalf of the deceased’s estate. If the claim is successful, the damages recovered are then distributed to the eligible beneficiaries. The Florida statutes do not allow uncles or aunts, cousins, grandparents, half or stepsiblings to initiate a wrongful death claim on behalf of the decedent. The following groups of people are eligible to receive wrongful death compensation:

  • The decedent’s spouse.
  • The decedent’s children born of a marriage.
  • The decedent mother’s children born out of wedlock.
  • The decedent’s father’s children born out of wedlock if the father, prior to his death, recognized a responsibility for the child’s support.
  • Any blood relatives who partly or wholly relied on the support of the decedent.
  • Any adoptive brothers and sisters who partly or wholly relied on the support or services of the decedent.

Each wrongful death case is unique, and the recoverable compensation varies greatly depending on the unique facts and circumstances involved. A wrongful death takes into account the full value of the decedent’s life. Thus, it is possible to recover the following types of damages in a wrongful death case:

  • Damages Available to Survivors
  • Damages Available to the Estate
  • Punitive Damages

These are awarded to the survivors to help them recover any losses incurred due to the untimely death of a loved one.  Under section 768.21 of the Florida Wrongful Death Act, survivors can recover the following damages in a wrongful death claim:

  • Medical expenses
  • Funeral expenses
  • Lost support and services. This may include a probable future income of the deceased, relationship to the deceased, and replacement value of lost support and services
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost companionship

The damages available to the estate in a wrongful death claim are listed under the Florida Statutes Section 768.21. They include:

  • Medical or funeral costs
  • Loss of earnings of the deceased from the date of the injury to the date of death
  • Loss of prospective net accumulations of an estate that were reasonably expected but were reduced to the present money value due to the decedent’s wrongful death.

The court may also impose punitive damages in situations where the defendant was intentionally or recklessly negligent and caused death. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party and discourage others from behaving in a similar way. Damages recovered can be used to compensate for the loss of the decedent or support a family deprived of its breadwinner. Either way, it helps to ensure that justice has been served.

In some jurisdictions, even if you are partially at fault for the accident, you may still be able to recover damages. However, the amount of compensation you receive may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. Discuss with us to fully understand the situation of your case.

Our West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawyers will help the decedent’s estate representative calculate a reasonably accurate estimation of the amount of compensation owed to the family and estate. They will then gather sufficient evidence to prove your case. All this will help increase the odds of getting rightful compensation.

The statute of limitations sets a timeframe for filing a lawsuit, and it varies by state and type of lawsuit. In Florida, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of death. However, the discovery rule and other factors can affect the timeframe. It is recommended to file the case before the deadline, and consulting with a wrongful death attorney can ensure that all legal documents are correctly filed within the time limits.

Wrongful death claims can arise in any situation where a person or entity does something careless, negligent, or in breach of their legal obligation and the negligent or wrongful action is the direct cause of death. Some common situations that might lead to a wrongful death claim include:

  • Traffic Accident
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Slip and Fall Accidents

Employers are expected to provide their employees with a safe environment when at work. If employers fail in their duty, accidents can occur causing injuries and even death in the workplace. Certain occupations, such as electricians, truck drivers, metalworkers, loggers, miners, and construction workers are considered high-risk occupations and come with a higher percentage of workplace deaths.  If it is proven that improper training or faulty equipment caused the accident resulting in death, the employer can be held liable.

More than 1 million people visit the emergency room every year as a result of slip and fall accidents, according to the National Floor Safety Institute. Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries and may even be fatal, especially if the victim is an elderly person or a young child. Slip and fall accidents occur for many reasons, often they could have been prevented if they were not caused by hazardous conditions.  Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

  • Wet or slippery floors or parking lots
  • Uneven tiles or flooring surfaces
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Broken railings
  • Cracked or raised sidewalks
  • Unsecured rugs and carpets

Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. A recent study has shown that medical negligence accounts for as many as 251,000 deaths annually. Any time a healthcare provider or a doctor offers substandard care to a patient, they can be held legally accountable for the consequences.  Most of the medical malpractice deaths occur as a result of the failure of primary care doctors to diagnose a medical condition. Surgeons, on the other hand, have reportedly been known to make errors like operating the wrong patient or body part or leaving surgical instruments inside of patients. Some of the different types of situations that can lead to medical malpractice deaths include:

  • Surgical errors, such as operating the wrong body part or the wrong patient
  • Delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose a medical problem
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Failure to monitor for drug interactions
  • Prescribing or administering the wrong dose or wrong medication
  • Laboratory test mistakes
  • Birth injuries
  • Inadequate hospital policies regarding cleanliness or staffing

What Our Clients Have to Say

Kelsey Burke is an amazing attorney.. she was very helpful with the both of my cases. She always stayed in touch with me and always kept me updated with was going on every chances she got. Thank you !!

Floridamade D.

First of all I want to thank Mr: Felice for his work to get justice in my case, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Mr: Felice is a lawyer dedicated to his work and client, there are few lawyers like him, that if he sell or fear the opposing lawyer he goes out to luhar for his client until the end without surrendering for a second. So, if someone needs a lawyer, I immediately recommend him and his entire team to work for me personally in Palm Beach County and all of Florida. Will be a pleasure to call him not only my lawyer but my friend too.
God Bless You and you team.

Pedro V.

Tim and Matt are the best of the best. Lawyers that finally care about you. Lawyers that work for you, listen to you. I could not ask for any better. They actually care about you as a person. You’re not a $ sign. And the rest of the crew is pretty awesome too. These guys work their butts off.

Karen M.

Very professional. They will bend over backwards for you, and attend to you as promptly as humanly possible. The attorneys are aggressive, and will work for you. I highly recommend these attorneys.

Miguel R.

I’m extremely thankful that Timothy Felice took my case. He worked tirelessly to make sure I received the best of care. I felt confident in his ability to handle the obstacles that came my way. With each difficulty, Tim always found a way to resolve the issues, to my benefit. I’m so grateful, to have met and worked with Tim, his love for the work that he does, is demonstrated in his ability to handle even the most challenging of cases. If you’re looking for an attorney who really cares and will invest his time and is exceptional in their field, then Timothy Felice is the one you should have on your side. I will be forever grateful for what he did for me and my family and If I ever need representation, he will be the only I could trust.

Maria D.

Felice Trial Attorneys are a powerful combination. Attorneys who will fight for their clients’ rights with proven results. I highly recommend their firm.

Sean D.

Shari was awesome she took her time to explain everything to me and really helped me with everything I really appreciate What she did for me…. Thank you, Shari

Jeff A

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