Have you recently lost a close family member in a fatal accident in St. Petersburg, FL? Contact Lopez Law Group Accident Injury Attorneys for immediate legal assistance. You may have the right to recover compensation for your devastating loss. Our St. Petersburg wrongful death lawyers can fight to maximize your financial recovery.
At Lopez Law Group Accident Injury Attorneys, we’re fierce advocates for injury victims and families in St. Petersburg and throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of combined experience and have won millions on behalf of grieving families like yours.
Contact our St. Petersburg, Florida law office to learn more. We offer a free case evaluation and work on a contingency fee basis; you pay nothing unless we win your case. Get in touch and call us at (727) 933-0015 to get started today.
How Our St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help If You’ve Lost a Family Member in a Fatal Accident
Money won’t bring your loved one back. It won’t take away the pain you’re experiencing. However, it can help offset the sudden financial burdens of your loved one’s untimely death – and maybe even give you a sense of justice.
Take the time you need to grieve. Let our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers handle your fight for damages.
We’re award-winning litigators with a demonstrated ability to win tough cases like yours. Our team is ready to go toe-to-toe with insurance companies and at-fault parties to ensure that you’re compensated for your devastating loss.
Our law firm will handle every aspect of your wrongful death case:
- Investigate the circumstances of the fatal accident to determine why it happened and who’s at fault
- Identify all possible sources of compensation for your family, including insurance benefits, damages in a wrongful death lawsuit, and/or workers’ compensation death benefits if they were killed on the job
- Gather evidence to demonstrate that your loved one’s death was avoidable and the result of another person’s negligence
- Consult with experts, including financial specialists who can help us understand the value of the damages in your wrongful death action
- Defend your loved one against efforts to blame them for their fatal accident
- Negotiate with insurers and other parties on your behalf
If your family is not offered a fair settlement, our accomplished litigators will be ready to take your case to trial. We are here to do whatever we can to ensure that you get the best possible result.
Give our compassionate legal team a call or reach out to us online to arrange a time for a free, no-obligation case evaluation today.
What is Wrongful Death?
Accidents are, for the most part, entirely avoidable. When someone gets hurt in an accident because someone else is negligent, they often have the right to file a personal injury claim for damages.
That right doesn’t disappear just because an accident is fatal and the victim doesn’t survive. Instead, it passes on to their family members (or, more specifically, their estate).
In Florida, the state’s wrongful death statute gives families the right to take legal action if death is the result of another’s negligence or wrongful action.
In other words, wrongful death is the result of an avoidable accident or intentional misconduct.
Do I Have a Wrongful Death Case?
You may have a legitimate wrongful death case if you’ve recently experienced the death of a loved one as a result of a:
- Car accident
- Truck accident
- Bicycle accident
- Pedestrian accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Boating accident
- Uber or Lyft accident
- Slip and fall accident
- Dog bite or animal attack
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injury
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Workplace accident
- Occupational illness or disease
- Construction accident
- Maritime accident
- Cruise ship accident
No matter what type of accident your loved one was involved in, trust that Lopez Law Group Accident Injury Attorneys will be there to help you move forward. Give our law office a call to discuss the details of your case with a member of our knowledgeable team today.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in St. Petersburg, FL?
While close family members can benefit from a wrongful death action, they’re not actually the ones who file the documents. Instead, that’s left to the victim’s personal representative.
The personal representative is named in the victim’s will. If the decedent didn’t have a will, then the personal representative would be appointed by the court.
Typically, the personal representative is a close family member, anyway.
The personal representative files the wrongful death action and surviving family members, including:
- Spouses
- Children
- Parents
- Other blood relatives, and
- Children who relied on the victim for support
Typically, the personal representative is a close family member, anyway. The parties just listed are eligible to benefit from the compensation that’s won in the lawsuit.
What Damages Can Be Awarded in a St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Case?
Unlike other types of personal injury lawsuits, there are limits as to what damages can be awarded in wrongful death actions. The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to compensate the surviving family member(s), not the victim. So, the damages awarded are intended to reflect that.
Damages that can be recovered in a St. Petersburg wrongful death lawsuit include:
- Financial support, including income and benefits
- Value of lost services and support
- Loss of companionship, guidance, protection, and instruction
- Medical bills and expenses paid by surviving family members
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
If the victim survived their fatal injuries for a period of time, then their estate may have the right to file a survival action. Through a survival action, additional compensation can be recovered.
This can include money for:
- Medical expenses paid or incurred by the victim
- Lost wages and income
- Mental anguish and suffering
- Loss of net accumulations
Damages in a survival action are paid to the victim’s estate and then distributed to the victim’s heirs.
How Does Shared Fault Impact a Wrongful Death Case in Florida?
When it comes to contributory fault, Florida has adopted a modified comparative negligence system that bars financial recovery if a victim’s share of fault exceeds 50%. As long as they’re 50% or less at fault, they can recover some damages. However, those damages will be reduced by their degree of fault.
This applies to personal injury cases filed by victims and wrongful death lawsuits filed by surviving family members.
If your family member’s negligence was a contributing factor in their fatal accident, that will be taken into account when determining how much money you’re able to get through a wrongful death claim.
Let’s say your spouse is killed in a motor vehicle accident in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were speeding at the time of the accident, so they’re assigned 25 percent fault. The damages awarded in your wrongful death case would be reduced by 25 percent to reflect that. If they were assigned 51% of the fault, you’d be unable to recover compensation.
Insurance companies and other parties probably won’t think twice before trying to point fingers and blame your family member for their fatal accident. After all, they’re not here to defend themselves or explain the accident from their perspective. And if you do nothing, you could watch valuable compensation disappear.
That’s why it’s important to make sure that you’re represented by a skilled personal injury attorney throughout the process. At Lopez Law Group Accident Injury Attorneys, we’ll be ready for these tactics and prepared to fight them every step of the way. We’ll do our best to defend your family member’s name and reputation, and to ensure that you’re awarded all of the money you deserve under the law.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in St. Petersburg, FL?
Wrongful death lawsuits are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in the state of Florida. The clock begins to run the date of your loved one’s death. This could be later than the date of their accident, depending on whether or not they survived their injuries.
Two years can go by quickly, especially when you’re grieving the loss of someone you loved so dearly. Don’t miss out on compensation that can make life easier. Contact our St. Petersburg wrongful death attorneys for assistance as soon as you can after your loss. We’ll be there to provide the guidance and legal services you need during this incredibly difficult time.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a loved one is never easy. Hold the parties responsible for your loved one’s death accountable. Don’t let them walk away without consequence. Contact Lopez Law Group Accident Injury Attorneys and ask our St. Petersburg wrongful death attorneys to fight for the financial compensation (and justice) you deserve.
Our law office in St. Petersburg provides a free initial case evaluation. Please reach out to our team to arrange a time for yours today. We’re always standing by to take your call – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our personal injury law firm in St. Petersburg, FL also provides:
- Assault Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- Bicycle Accident Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Boating Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Brain Injury Attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL
- Car Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Child Injury Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Construction Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- Dog Bite Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL
- Pedestrian Accident Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Premises Liability Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- Product Liability Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Slip and Fall Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
- Truck Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL
- Uber Accident Attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL
- Workplace Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL
- Wrongful Death Attorney in St. Petersburg, FL
Recent Wrongful Death Blog Posts
- What Are the Odds of Dying in a Car Crash in St. Petersburg, FL?
- What Is the Main Cause of Florida Boating Accidents Leading to Death?
Highly Rated St. Petersburg Funeral Homes
- Sorensen Funeral Home – 3180 30th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713, United States
- Anderson McQueen Funeral Homes – 2201 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704, United States
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*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
St. Petersburg Personal Injury Resources
- Florida Death Certificates
- Florida State Website
- Can an APRN sign death certificates?
- National Safety Council
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