Gainesville Wrongful Death Lawyers

The sadness, shock, and immediacy of a wrongful death are impossible to erase. Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a devastating experience that no family should endure.

However, Florida law provides a system to hold negligent parties responsible through wrongful death lawsuits. These legal actions aim to prevent future losses by promoting safer practices and accountability.

Wrongful death lawsuits filed in Gainesville have led to significant advancements in our society. For example, they have resulted in fire-retardant baby clothes and blankets, child-safe gates at swimming pools, detailed ingredient and content labels on food products, and better-positioned gas tanks in cars. These changes highlight how such lawsuits can drive improvements that protect others from harm.

While nothing can replace your loved one, wrongful death legal challenges strive to compensate families for their loss. This includes addressing pain and suffering, loss of support, and other damages suffered by the family.

Please call us about your Gainesville wrongful death attorney needs. Discussing your case with a qualified and experienced Gainesville wrongful death lawyer can provide you with the guidance and support you need during this difficult time.

At Whittel & Melton, we want to help you. We can investigate the matter using accident reconstruction techniques and advanced technology focused on determining the cause of your loved one’s death. Speaking with us sooner rather than later can be crucial in preserving evidence and building a strong case.

The consultation is free, and we are here to assist you every step of the way.

Alachua County and Gainesville, FL Accidental Death Attorneys

Our firm will represent a family, relative, spouse, or non-related dependent child who has lost a loved one in fatal car or truck accident, drowning, construction accident, shooting at a dance club or parking lot of a public place, train crash, airplane or helicopter accident, and boating fatalities.

Compensation in Florida Wrongful Death Cases:

Money damages can be collected for:

• Medical bills incurred before death
• Funeral costs
• Loss of future earnings, savings, and financial support – including future raises and promotions in the industry
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of parental, spousal, and familial guidance

Accidental Death at Work versus Wrongful Death in Motor Vehicle Accident? Is a wrongful death from a car crash, motorcycle wreck or truck pile up any different than a work-related heavy machinery accident causing death?

There are issues that arise when an individual dies at work, specifically workers compensation insurance will need to be addressed as well as at-fault entities, other than the employer, ex. Products, other companies, other negligent parties, need to be identified and investigated. Further still, in some instances no workers compensation immunity will exist for the employer, however these instances are rare, generally virtually certain accidents or intentional accidents investigated, and a qualified lawyer needs to be investigating the matter as soon as possible.

In a roadway incident, no matter involving motorcycle, cars, trucks, semi-trailer truck or tractor-trailer truck the analysis is more streamlined. In an event involving a crash, the immediate at-fault insurance is just the tip of the investigation. Many other legal entities could have applicable insurance including, employers, freight owners, service providers, employment agencies, etc. Gainesville in particular has one of the deadliest highways in the country, I-75. I-75 has produced some of the deadliest pile ups and trucks crashes in recent memory. We are always available to consult with family members to investigate and provide legal avenues of recovery for the surviving members of the family.

How Much is a Typical Wrongful Death Settlement?

Determining the value of a wrongful death settlement depends on various factors, making it a complex question. In Florida, the specific facts of the case, including liability and causation, play a crucial role in evaluating the potential settlement.

For example, if the decedent is found to be 90% at fault for their death, this will significantly reduce the damages the attorney can recover. Additionally, causation is another important factor. Preexisting conditions or the timing of the death can influence the settlement amount.

Damages in wrongful death cases are also highly specific. Factors such as whether the decedent was married, a parent (especially to minor children or adult children under 24), employment history, and potential future earnings (salary, pension benefits, etc.) all impact the final number.

Typically, wrongful death settlements in Florida range between $500,000 and $1,000,000. However, some cases may settle for less, while others may result in much higher amounts, depending on the circumstances.

Who Gets the Money in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida?

In most cases, the surviving spouse is the person who recovers in a wrongful death lawsuit. However, every case is different, but the Personal Representative of an Estate is charged with the duty of distributing any proceeds from a wrongful death lawsuit wherein the Estate makes a recovery. In some cases, the Estate does not make a recovery and the defendant chooses to resolve the case by making payment directly to the survivors. In Florida, a statute was created specifically articulating who is a survivor in Florida. F.S. 786.21

How Long Does a Wrongful Death Settlement Take?

Wrongful Death cases and Personal Injury cases share similar timelines when litigation begins. Typically, 18 months from filing a lawsuit is a common end date for a lawsuit. There is of course time that accumulates before a lawsuit is filed, and not all cases take 18-24 months from the beginning. Some cases unfortunately take years to resolve – this can happen when you are asking for a considerable amount of money or liability is hotly contested.

Free Gainesville Wrongful Death Case Consultation and Evaluation for cases throughout Alachua County including Alachua, Archer, Gainesville, Hawthorne, High Springs, La Crosse, Micanopy, Newberry and Waldo. Contact Alachua County Wrongful Death Lawyers TODAY at 352-264-7800

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