Did you recently lose a loved one in a fatal accident in St. Petersburg, FL? If someone else caused the death of your loved one, our team at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help your family fight for justice. An experienced St. Petersburg wrongful death lawyer can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost financial support, and your family’s grief and suffering. Call our law firm in St. Petersburg, Florida at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free consultation today.
Since 1986, our lawyers have been champions for grieving families like yours. We’ve already used our skills to recover more than $120 million in settlements and verdicts. Now, we’re prepared to put over 50 years of combined legal experience to work in your case. We know you’ve suffered a devastating loss. Let our lawyers take the lead in the fight for full financial compensation.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Family Recover Compensation for Wrongful Death in St. Petersburg
Every year, hundreds of people in the Tampa Bay area die because of preventable accidents and tragic acts of violence. It’s families like yours who are left scrambling to make ends meet in the wake of these losses.
Our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys are here to help you fight for justice. Our lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers have been listed among Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers. We’ve also been recognized by Super Lawyers and earned an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
When you turn to us after the tragic loss of a family member, trust that we will:
- Conduct an extensive investigation into your loved one’s death
- Determine who is financially responsible for your damages
- Handle the insurance paperwork and legal filings
- Bring in experts to strengthen your case
- Handle the settlement negotiations with the at-fault parties and insurance companies
- Reject lowball deals and demand a fair compensation award at trial if necessary
Do not hesitate to reach out to our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys for legal assistance today. We have the skills and resources to help your family maximize your financial recovery.
Overview of Florida’s Wrongful Death Laws
Florida’s wrongful death laws allow grieving families to seek compensation from any party who caused their loved one’s death. Wrongful death in Florida is defined to include any death “caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person.”
If your loved one would have been entitled to sue for damages, there’s a good chance your family has a wrongful death case.
What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Wrongful death lawsuits are similar to personal injury lawsuits. They’re civil matters handled in civil court. When the plaintiff succeeds, the courts award financial compensation to attempt to make up for their losses.
In reality, most wrongful death cases are settled with insurance companies before going to court.
While some wrongful death cases involve criminal charges, most are based on accidents. Even when the defendant is charged with a crime, your wrongful death case will be completely separate. In fact, you may be able to recover compensation for wrongful death even if the defendant is acquitted.
Only Certain Family Members Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida
Losing a loved one by itself isn’t enough to give you the right to sue for wrongful death.
Only certain surviving family members can file a lawsuit for wrongful death, including:
- The victim’s surviving spouse
- The victim’s children
- The victim’s parents
- Any blood relatives or adopted siblings, but only if they depended on the victim for financial support
The victim’s personal representative also has the authority to file a lawsuit. When the personal representative successfully recovers compensation, that compensation is distributed based on the terms of the victim’s will. When a victim doesn’t have a will, the proceeds are distributed in accordance with Florida’s intestacy laws.
What is My St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Many different factors can impact the value of your claim, including:
- The victim’s age and life expectancy when they died
- How the victim contributed to your family’s finances and household
- The age and identity of surviving children and dependents
- The nature of the responsible party’s actions
- Out-of-pocket expenses you’ve incurred due to the loss
- The victim’s prior earnings and likely earning capacity had they lived
Determining the value of a wrongful death case can be particularly challenging. Most of your damages will involve future losses. You won’t have clear-cut records to support their value.
That makes it important to hire an experienced St. Petersburg wrongful death attorney who knows how to build a strong case for compensation.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Wrongful Death Case in St. Petersburg?
The types of damages you can recover for wrongful death are different from those available in personal injury laws. You’re still entitled to seek compensation for your family’s economic damages and non-economic damages.
Under Florida law, your family may be entitled to compensation for:
- Lost financial support and services between the date of injury and death, plus interest
- Loss of future financial support the victim would have provided had they lived
- The reasonable value of household services the victim would have provided
- If the victim had children, loss of parental support and guidance
- Loss of a spouse’s companionship and protection or loss of consortium
- Mental pain and suffering
- Medical expenses incurred by the victim between the date of injury and the date of death.
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Loss of prospective net accumulations or loss of inheritance
When determining the types of damages your family can recover, the identities of surviving dependents are important.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Florida?
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. Your lawyer’s fees are equal to a percentage of your settlement or verdict. You’ll never have to worry about upfront fees or unexpected legal bills.
What Happens to My Family’s Compensation if My Loved One Shared Some Blame for Their Death in Florida?
Shared fault continues to be an issue even if the victim doesn’t survive their injuries. In fact, insurance companies may be more likely to try pinning some blame on your loved one. We know these allegations aren’t always fair or legitimate.
Florida has a modified comparative negligence law. Your family will lose your right to compensation if the insurance company proves your loved one was more than 50% responsible for their own injuries. Sharing any lesser degree of fault will result in a reduced settlement or verdict.
We Handle Any Type of Wrongful Death Claim in St. Petersburg
Our legal team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has the ability to handle any type of wrongful death claim.
We often handle cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Truck accidents involving semis and big rigs
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Intentional criminal acts
If your loved one was killed in a preventable accident, our team is prepared to fight for you. Call our law offices to schedule a free case review to learn more.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Damages for Wrongful Death in St. Petersburg?
Fatal accidents tend to be sudden. You may not know exactly what happened or who was responsible. In the vast majority of wrongful death cases, the victim’s survivors must prove negligence to recover compensation.
To prove that someone else was liable based on negligence, you must establish:
- The defendant’s legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach of duty directly caused your loved one’s death
- The nature and value of the damages your family has suffered
We know that it can be difficult to launch a full investigation while your family is grieving. That said, it’s often the only way to recover the full compensation you deserve. Our lawyers can handle the search for evidence. We’ll locate and evaluate accident reports, witness statements, video footage, and any other evidence that can help prove your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Losing a Loved One in a Fatal Accident in Florida?
The statute of limitations in most wrongful death cases is two years in Florida. The two-year time period starts running on the date of your loved one’s death. Once two years pass, you lose the right to demand compensation from the at-fault party.
Contact a St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Every day can be difficult after the loss of a loved one. When someone else is responsible, you deserve an experienced St. Petersburg wrongful death lawyer who can help you demand accountability. Our team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers knows how to help your family through this difficult time. Contact us today at (727) 787-2500 to learn more about your legal right to seek compensation.
