Wrongful Death Attorneys in Clearwater

What Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?

Putting a price tag on a life might seem impossible. 

Courts and insurance companies, however, consider a number of different factors in calculating the value of your claim, including:

• Your loved one’s pain and suffering
• The victim’s age, life expectancy, and earning capacity
• The age of surviving dependents
• The cost of your loved one’s medical treatment
• Your family’s emotional trauma

Our lawyers have relationships with trusted experts and specialists who can help assess the fair value of your injury claim. Before accepting any settlement, call to speak with an experienced wrongful death attorney who can help you understand what your case is really worth.

What Types of Damages Are Available in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Survivors are entitled to a broad range of damages in Florida. Like a motor vehicle accident case, you’re entitled to damages to cover the victim’s medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses incurred from the date of the accident until the date of death.

Surviving family members are also entitled to recover compensation for:

• The value of lost support and services from the date of injury to the date of death
• The value of future lost financial support and services
• Loss of companionship and protection
• Mental pain and suffering
• Loss of parental instruction and guidance
• Funeral expenses
• Loss of prospective net accumulations or inheritance

At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that money can’t bring your loved one back. It can help you protect your financial security going forward. That’s an important task, and we’ll fight to make sure you’re compensated to the fullest extent allowed under the law.

Can I Recover Damages If My Loved One is Accused of Causing a Fatal Accident?

Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to blame victims who were killed in an accident. Sometimes those claims are legitimate. Other times they aren’t. In either case, you may be able to recover damages even if your loved one’s negligence also contributed to the accident.

Florida is a modified comparative fault state with a 51% bar to recovery. All parties to an accident are held liable for their proportionate share of the blame. As long as someone else was mostly responsible, you can recover damages.

However, your damages award will be reduced if the insurance company can prove that your loved one was partly responsible. If 30% of the fault is allocated to your loved one, your settlement or verdict will be reduced by 30%. But if 51% or more of the fault is allocated, you will be barred from recovering damages under Florida law.

If someone is trying to blame your loved one, don’t hesitate to call Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation. Your loved one isn’t here to tell their side of the story. Our Clearwater wrongful death attorneys can find any evidence that would minimize their role in the accident.  

We Handle All Types of Wrongful Death Cases

Our legal team at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers have experience handling all types of wrongful death cases, including cases involving:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Bus accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Boating and jet ski accidents
• Construction accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Premises liability
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Assault and violence 

You may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one was killed because of someone else’s negligence. If you’re struggling after the unexpected death of a loved one, reach out to our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation today.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Fatal Accident in Florida? 

You might not know exactly how your loved one was killed. Even if you were present at the scene of the accident, tragic accidents happen quickly. Our Board Certified civil trial lawyers can help you prove whether someone else’s mistake caused your loss.

The vast majority of wrongful death cases are based on negligence. Even if someone didn’t intend to hurt anyone, they can be held financially accountable for their careless actions. 

Negligence means that a third party:

• Owed your loved one a legal duty of care
• Breached that duty, and
• The breach caused the accident and the victim’s damages.

Our lawyers have been handling wrongful death claims for decades. We’ll launch an exhaustive investigation to find out what happened.

That means our legal team will:

• Analyze all medical records and police reports
• Interview witnesses
• Locate video surveillance footage and photos of the accident scene
• Work with accident reconstruction specialists
• Locate any records of safety violations and other relevant reports

If you’re wondering whether you have a case, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice. Our lawyers would be happy to review your case for free and help you understand your legal options.

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Florida?

You don’t have an unlimited amount of time to take legal action. The statute of limitations only gives grieving families two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The two-year period begins on the date of death.

Missing the deadline has serious repercussions. You’ll lose your right to sue for damages if you wait too long. Our lawyers can take action to preserve your right to compensation while you grieve. 

Have you lost a family member in a fatal accident? Call a Clearwater wrongful death lawyer at (727) 591-3354 to schedule a free consultation today.