Serving Clients Across Florida And In North Port, Port Charlotte, Lakewood Ranch, Punta Gorda, Sarasota County, Manatee County, & Charlotte County
Losing a family member unexpectedly is a heartbreaking experience. Shock, grief, and loss can follow, throwing your life into turmoil for an extended period. Such an event can also affect you and your family financially. Financial needs can arise, such as the medical expenses your loved one incurred before death as well as funeral and burial expenses and, in some cases, the loss of income or services that your family member provided. Fortunately, Florida has established wrongful death law that allows for the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate to seek compensatory damages for both the estate and the surviving family members. Our wrongful death lawyers are here to help with your Sarasota wrongful death case.
The wrongful death attorneys at Gerber Law represent clients in these wrongful death claims. A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of your loved one’s passing. Our firm does nothing else but pursue personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits throughout the Sarasota area. Because we are not distracted by other legal areas, we can fine-tune our representation to help you pursue the damages you deserve in your wrongful death suit based on the negligence or wrongdoing of at-fault parties and their insurers. Most claims involving a fatal accident are settled out of court through negotiations. However, we can take your case to trial should that be in your best interests.
Book a free initial consultation with a Sarasota wrongful death attorney to learn more about your case. Contact Gerber Law via email or by phone at 941-484-2700 to get started.
Wrongful Death Claims in Florida
Wrongful death claims are civil cases that pursue damages in the form of monetary compensation. According to Florida’s wrongful death statute, they can be sought even if the at-fault party has been charged with a crime and is being prosecuted in search of jail time and other penalties. Civil court and criminal cases are two separate matters. They also differ in that a wrongful death claim only needs to be proven by a “preponderance of evidence” as opposed to the high bar of “beyond a reasonable doubt” in criminal courts.
A Sarasota wrongful death attorneys can bring a case based on:
- Car and truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Defective drugs or other products
- Premises liability
- Nursing home neglect and abuse
A wrongful death claim must show that the at-fault party committed some type of negligence or wrongful behavior that led to the person’s death and the resulting damages. An example of this would be a drunk driver causing a fatal injury in a car accident.
DAMAGES IN WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS
Two categories of damages may be pursued under wrongful death claims by our sarasota wrongful death lawyers. These are 1. Damages for the family and 2. Damages for the deceased person’s estate.
Family wrongful death damages can include:
- Loss of services, support, companionship, and protection that the decedent would have provided
- Pain and suffering of the family
- Loss of parental guidance and companionship for the decedent’s children
- Mental pain
- Medical expenses paid by the family
- Funeral and burial expenses paid by the family
Estate damages can include:
- Loss of the decedent’s wages, earnings, or benefits
- The value of savings that would have become part of the estate if the decedent had lived based on his or her earnings and benefits
- Medical and/or funeral expenses paid by the estate
The above are general categories. To learn more about the types of damages that may be available to your family under Florida law, it is recommended that you speak with a skilled wrongful death lawyer.
Turn to Gerber Law in Your Time of Need
Our firm is committed to providing compassionate support, staunch advocacy, and aggressive representation at the negotiation table or in court. We are here to pursue full and fair compensation for what you have suffered due to untimely death.
