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How to Find a Wrongful Death Attorney in Florida

Published at April 19, 2021 by administrator.

While the grief of losing someone you love cannot be taken away by a wrongful death attorney, they can strengthen your case and get justice for your loved one. During this terrible time, family and loved ones are overwhelmed, and looking for an attorney to help with the legal case can be difficult. It doesn’t have to be complicated, though.

Knowing what type of attorney to look for, what a wrongful death suit entails, and how an attorney can help your case is necessary. The legal means of filing a wrongful death suit and seeking damages are your right as a loved one. Hiring an excellent wrongful death attorney can help you navigate this complex journey.

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

The first thing to know about a wrongful death suit is that you can file it even when there are no criminal charges in a case. Your wrongful death attorney can go through all the specifics with you and walk you through the process of this civil action.

This civil suit is brought on behalf of the person who was killed and their family, including spouse, children, or others who are affected. The case gets filed against the party believed to be negligent in the incident which caused the death.

Typically damages are sought against the entity or person thought to be responsible. These damages could include a wide variety of monetary requests such as:

Loss of wages
Pain and suffering
Physical items lost in the incident
Mental anguish

Even if the cause of death was an accident, a wrongful death attorney might still be able to help you. In the United States, there are an estimated 160,000 unintentional injury deaths each year. An accident does not resolve all parties of legal responsibility when it comes to wrongful death lawsuits.

Three Essentials to Know about Florida Wrongful Death Laws

Lawyer comforting a client with a desk with a gavel on it in front of them.

Although some states may allow any immediate family members to file a wrongful death claim, that is not Florida’s case. Florida requires the initial claim be filed by a victim’s estate and handled by a personal representative.

1. Who is a Personal Representative?

Florida law states the decedent’s will should name a personal representative.
An estate planning document may name the representative.
A Court may designate a representative.
The personal representative is typically a spouse, parent, or adult child of the decedent.

2. Time Limits

Most states set a time limit on when a wrongful death case can be initiated. Although there can be some exceptions, they are not made very often and require an attorney to navigate the legal system. There is a two-year limit from the date of death for a wrongful death claim to be filed in the State of Florida.

3. What Compensation is Available?

Loss of support from the loved one’s death
Loss of guidance
Emotional pain and suffering
Medical and funeral expenses

Finding a Wrongful Death Attorney

You may have never had to find an attorney that specifically worked with wrongful death cases before. This period’s emotions can make it even more challenging to make the decisions necessary to find the ideal wrongful death attorney. Some ways to find an attorney include:

Asking friends and family if they have a lawyer they recommend
Research online reviews of law firms
Call potential lawyers and ask questions
Set up an in-person interview

The absolute best way for you to find the right wrongful death attorney for you will be by interviewing your potential attorneys. During the interview process, you can ask any questions that you have about your situation. A good lawyer will take notes during the interview and give their feedback on the process as well.

You can also ask potential attorneys about their experience working on wrongful death cases and references from past cases. Feel free to take your time finding the right attorney. It is essential that you feel comfortable and confident in the attorney you choose to represent you and your loved ones during this challenging time.

How to Get Started

Laptop and gavel in front of a window of a large city.

Having a loved one die is a terrible thing, but it is even more complicated if there are wrongful death circumstances. If you think your loved one’s death was wrongful, the emotions are often very overwhelming. We recognize that it may be difficult for you to reach out to get help, but we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. At Stafford Law, we are here to help you take some of the mental pressure off. Your attorney will work for you and minimize as much of the stress of this overwhelming incident as possible.

Hiring a lawyer doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Contact the Stafford Law Firm for a free consultation today! We look forward to meeting with you and will give you our full attention to determine the best path for your legal case.

We are open Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Call us today at (561) 540-4533 or stop by and visit us at 2290 10^th Avenue North, Suite 302, Lake Worth, Florida 33461