Wrongful Death Lawyer in West Palm Beach

Losing a family member unexpectedly is devastating. It’s a path filled with emotional turbulence and confusion. Amid this grief, you may want to take legal action against the party liable for your loved one’s death, which can be emotionally taxing. Thankfully, an empathetic and compassionate wrongful death lawyer in West Palm Beach can help you during this tough time. 

Blakeley Law Firm offers legal guidance and support to those dealing with the aftermath of a family member’s tragic death. Our team has decades of experience and is here to assist you as you decide whether to move forward with a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. To learn more, schedule a consultation with a West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer from our team. 

Why Should You Get Legal Help from Blakeley Law Firm?

At Blakeley Law Firm, our wrongful death attorneys in West Palm Beach are available to you in your darkest hours. Our lawyers have recovered over $200 million for our clients. We are committed to our clients and have a track record of success in wrongful death cases and others. 

Our personal injury attorneys understand that no amount of money will change the fact that your loved one is gone. However, we acknowledge that financial compensation can provide you with stability and help you stay afloat financially in the years to come. In addition, by filing a claim or lawsuit, you can seek justice and damages from anyone liable for your family member’s death. 

We have earned many positive client reviews, as we do everything we can to support our clientele. If you are unsure of how the legal process works or what will happen if you proceed with a claim or personal injury lawsuit, we can assist. For more information, discuss your case with a West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyer. 

Wrongful Death Legal Representation in West Palm Beach to Consider

Who you choose to serve as your wrongful death attorney in West Palm Beach has long-lasting implications for you and your family.

Trust a lawyer who values their clientele and commits the time and resources required to help their clients achieve outstanding case results. Lawyers who could help you with your case include:

• West Palm Beach car accident lawyers: Sadly, an auto accident is fatal, and you lose a loved one due to a motorist’s decision not to follow the rules of the road. Have an attorney evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
• West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers: A trucker violates hours of service (HOS) regulations or other rules, leading to an accident in which a member of your family is killed. Consult with an attorney, as they may help you file a claim or lawsuit against the truck driver involved in the accident, their employer, or other at-fault parties. 
• West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyers: Your family member loses their life in a motorcycle accident, and you have no idea what to do next. Allow a lawyer to handle your legal matters and pursue compensatory damages from a motorist or any other parties liable for your loved one’s fatal accident. 
• West Palm Beach pedestrian accident lawyers: A pedestrian accident in which your family member has lost their life challenges you and your loved ones emotionally and financially. Talk with an attorney, and they will let you know if you can sue anyone who contributed to this accident for damages. 
• West Palm Beach slip and fall accident lawyers: If a family member slips, falls, and suffers a fatal injury on someone else’s property, you could have grounds for a premises liability claim or lawsuit. Ask an attorney for help, and they can determine if a property owner was negligent and is responsible for the losses associated with your loved one’s death. 
• West Palm Beach spinal cord injury lawyers: Doctors treat your family member’s spinal cord injury, but the issue proves to be fatal. If this injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, an attorney can help you get compensation from the responsible party. 
• West Palm Beach brain injury lawyers: Someone is liable for your family member’s fatal traumatic brain injury. Review your case with an attorney, and they may help you get money from the at-fault party. 

Give your search for a West Palm Beach wrongful death attorney the attention it deserves. If you have an experienced lawyer on your side, you are well-equipped to get fair compensation for the monetary losses associated with your family member’s death. 

How Much Is a Wrongful Death Case in West Palm Beach Worth? 

Wrongful death lawyers in West Palm Beach want their clients to recover economic and non–economic damages. In your case, your attorney will advise you to ask for compensatory damages for various reasons, such as:

Burial and Funeral Expenses

You are worried about how you will cover your late family member’s burial and funeral costs. Share these expenses with your attorney. Next, your lawyer can prepare an argument designed to show a judge or jury why the party liable for your loved one’s death should have to compensate you accordingly. 

Medical Bills

Prior to their death, your family member may have incurred substantial medical costs. In this instance, your attorney will evaluate these expenses carefully and can incorporate them into your damages request. 

Loss of Companionship

The losses of love, companionship, protection, and care that your deceased family member provided are irreplaceable. West Palm Beach wrongful death attorneys focus on building a case that encompasses the value of lost companionship and similar subjective losses. 

Outside of these economic and non-economic damages, you can receive compensation for pain and suffering, a loss of income, and other harm you face relating to your loved one’s death. Your attorney calculates your losses and puts you in a position to obtain compensation for them promptly. 

How Much Time Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Florida?

Generally, in Florida, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit or claim is two years. This means you have up to two years from the date a family member dies to recover compensation from any liable parties. 

Meet with personal injury lawyers in West Palm Beach if you are weighing the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit or claim. Your attorney will describe the requirements for seeking compensation on behalf of a deceased person (decedent). 

Florida law states that an individual must be a personal representative of a deceased person’s estate if they want to submit a lawsuit or claim. This representative can be a decedent’s surviving spouse, children, siblings, or parents. In some cases, a court will appoint a personal representative. 

How to Prove Negligence in Your Case

It is incredibly difficult to show that a liable party acted negligently and should have to cover the losses you incur after losing a family member. To prove negligence, your lawyer wants a judge or jury to see that the following are accurate and true relative to your case:

A Party Has a Duty of Care to Your Family Member. 

Someone has a duty of care if they are legally obligated to avoid any acts that could put others in danger. If a party commits an act that can harm others, they can cause an accident in which one or more people are killed. 

This Party Breached Their Duty of Care. 

A breach of a duty of care occurs when a party commits an act of carelessness or recklessness. For example, a person gets behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated.

This individual slams their car into your family member, resulting in a fatal accident. After the incident, a West Palm Beach drunk driving accident attorney can help you hold this motorist liable for their actions.  

The Party’s Action Led to Your Family Member’s Death. 

Since a party chose to violate their duty of care, they committed an act that contributed to your family member’s death. Your attorney can establish a timeline of events leading up to your loved one’s fatal accident. This timeline can help a judge or jury see why damages are warranted. 

You Have Suffered Damages Because of the Party’s Actions. 

In their argument, your lawyer will highlight the financial impact of your loved one’s death on you and your family. They may use pay stubs, medical bills, and other evidence to strengthen your case for damages. 

Along with these pieces of evidence, your attorney may utilize accident scene photos and videos, medical records, and other proof when they present their argument to a judge or jury. If your lawyer’s evidence is compelling, the court may be inclined to award damages that match your expectations. 

How Does Modified Comparative Negligence Apply to Your Case?

Florida has a modified comparative negligence rule that can impact what you get in damages. With this rule, you are barred from recovering damages in a wrongful death case if your late family member is more than 50% at fault for their death. Or, if your late loved one is 1-50% at fault, what you receive in compensation will be reduced by their degree of fault. 

To understand modified comparative negligence, look at what can happen if you file a wrongful death lawsuit after a family member dies in a fatal car crash. If the court says your late loved one was 20% at fault, you will get 80% of the damages you requested. Alternatively, if a judge or jury finds that your late family member was primarily liable, you cannot get damages. 

Expect a liable party to fight back against your wrongful death claim. This party may argue that your late family member was partly or fully to blame for their fatal accident.

Regardless, your lawyer contests this party’s argument. Depending on the circumstances of your case, they may help you get a settlement before a trial is required. 

Should You Accept a Florida Wrongful Death Claim Settlement?

Settling a Florida wrongful death claim may be a viable option. Ideally, a liable party’s insurance company offers a reasonable settlement. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen, as an insurer may do whatever it can to avoid paying out your claim. 

Ultimately, an at-fault party’s insurance company may offer a lowball settlement or dispute your claim. Your West Palm Beach, FL wrongful death lawyer can negotiate a settlement. They will keep you updated about settlement negotiations and assess any proposals with you. 

You are not required to approve a settlement offer. For those who don’t get a proposal that provides adequate compensation, your attorney will advise you to decline.

If you reject a settlement offer, your lawyer can continue with settlement negotiations with a liable party’s insurance company or bring your case to trial. 

What Are the Differences Between Survival Actions and Wrongful Death Claims in Florida?

A survival actions claim allows a personal representative of a deceased person’s estate to get money to cover losses that the decedent experienced before their death. With this claim, the representative may obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses the deceased would have been able to recover if they had lived. 

Meanwhile, a wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family members of a deceased person for the losses they incur due to the death of their loved one.

The surviving spouse, children, or other family members of a deceased person may file this type of claim for losses associated with this individual’s death. 

Your lawyer can provide FAQs and other resources to teach you about survival actions and wrongful death claims, along with the steps involved in them. If you file a claim or lawsuit after a loved one’s death, your attorney will make sure your legal needs are met throughout your case proceedings. 

Partner with Wrongful Death Lawyers in West Palm Beach, Florida, Who Provide Aggressive Legal Representation

You feel overwhelmed in the days after your family member’s death. Wrongful death attorneys in West Palm Beach, Florida can assist you as you figure out what to do from here.

They empathize with you and your family and, if necessary, will fight to get you compensation from anyone at fault for your loved one’s fatal accident. 

Blakeley Law Firm is a Florida personal injury law firm dedicated to achieving your goals. Our attorneys will represent and advocate for you if you pursue compensatory damages through a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. Contact us today.