Lawyers for Wrongful Death Cases in Port St. Lucie

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Florida’s wrongful death act is contained in § 768.16 of the Florida Statutes. It allows surviving family members of someone who was wrongfully killed to take legal action to recover compensation from the wrongdoer. Like personal injury claims and lawsuits, the cause of action in wrongful death claims is negligence or wrongdoing, because wrongful death claims are civil cases.

If you recently suffered the loss of a loved one due to some other party’s negligent, careless, or wrongful actions, you may have legal recourse. To learn if you are able to bring a wrongful death action against the wrongdoer, contact our Port St. Lucie wrongful death attorneys at Crary Buchanan for an evaluation of your case.

Wrongful Death Definitions

Florida’s wrongful death act uses some terms that are not commonplace. Definitions are helpful in understanding how our state’s wrongful death laws work and what rights and privileges to which surviving family members are entitled.

• Survivor – The Florida Statutes define a “survivor” as the deceased’s (decedent’s): spouse, children, parents, and in some cases, other blood relatives and relatives by law.
• Minor children – This refers to any child under the age of 25; the child of the decedent.
• Support ­– Support in the wrongful death act not only refers to financial support, but other contributions as well.
• Services – A service is any task previously performed by the decedent that will now be an expense to the survivors.
• New accumulations – This refers to the net dollar amount that the decedent would have retained had the wrongful death not occurred. This can include salary and pension benefits.

Wrongful Death Damages: § 768.21

There are many different ways survivors can obtain compensation after the loss of a loved one. The Florida Statutes list out the different forms of damages you may be entitled to, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost support and services
• Loss of companionship and protection
• Lost instruction and guidance
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral expenses

Ready to begin? We’re here to help.

If you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s wrongful action (or inaction), you can seek legal action to help you cover expenses. We know that nothing can replace your loved one, but we can help you obtain justice so the negligent party is held accountable. Since 1927, our firm has been a passionate advocate for the wrongfully injured and their families. Call us today for a confidential evaluation of your case to see how we can help.