Eligibility for Claiming Wrongful Death Damages

When a loved one dies, it is a difficult experience for his/her family members. It is even more difficult to deal with if the negligence or fault of another was the proximate cause of the death. No amount of money can compensate the loss you suffer; the question is – why do you file a wrongful death lawsuit then?


It is true that no money can balance your losses. However, if the deceased was an employed individual and contributed support and services to the family/survivors, his/her death spells financial trouble for them. Apart from this, you also need to provide for the medical and funeral expenses, thus damaging the finances even more.


In such a situation, Florida wrongful death laws provide you a relief – at least from the financial problems at hand. Who can file a compensation claim? What can the individual survivors claim as damages? Here is a quick look at the details as per the Florida Statute section 768.21.


A living spouse and/or minor children can recover the loss of support and services in a wrongful death action. Support and services implies the financial as well as non-financial ones that the deceased individual would have provided if he/she were still alive.


A living spouse is also entitled to damage recovery on grounds of mental pain and suffering and the loss of consortium.


A child (under the age of 25 years) is also eligible for damage recovery on grounds of loss of parental guidance and company, only if there is no surviving spouse.


Parents of a deceased minor are entitled to damage recovery on grounds of pain and suffering. If the deceased was an adult, and there were no surviving spouse or children, the parents may also recover damages.


Note: If it is a medical negligence suit, this is not a possibility.


Any survivor or the deceased individual’s estate administrator who paid the medical and funeral expenses is entitled to recover these from the liable entity.


The interpretation of the Florida law and its application of it to the facts is a job suitable for a legal practitioner. If you are considering filing such a suit, you need to find a Boca Raton Wrongful Death Law Firm. Even before filing a suit, a consultation with a lawyer is essential.


A lawyer would be able to investigate the matter, analyze the facts and tell you the right way to approach the case. This is imperative for success in a wrongful death action.



Author Bio: Fiona Miller, a legal columnist working with a magazine, offers practical suggestions for handling wrongful death law issues. If you are looking for a Boca Raton Wrongful Death Law Firm, she recommends you to visit http://www.attorney4life.com