Understanding Wrongful Death
Brian O Sutter
Wrongful Death
Of all the various types of personal injury law, one of the most damaging to families is that which involves wrongful death. Wrongful death law has a direct impact on everyone in the life of the person who is lost, and in more ways than one.While overcoming the loss of a loved one is an emotional challenge that will leave lasting memories forever, it’s even worse when the death could have been prevented and was instead caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another. Taking a closer look at wrongful death law is something that is well worth doing for anyone who has lost a loved one recently.
What Is Wrongful Death?
Essentially, wrongful death in terms of Florida law refers to a death that has occurred as the direct result of the reckless or negligent actions of another party. If certain conditions are met, the negligent parties could be ordered to pay financial compensation to the family of the deceased.
In order to seek compensation for wrongful death, it must be proven that the other party acted in a way that was negligent or reckless. For example, negligence could include:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving at an unsafe speed or in an unsafe manner
- Knowing about a potential safety issue in a workplace but ignoring it outright
For example, if an employer knew that a piece of machinery was faulty but did nothing to correct it or warn employees about it, that could be considered negligence. So could a person driving drunk who ends up causing the death of others.
The High Cost Of Wrongful Death
One of the biggest points worth mentioning where wrongful death is concerned is the kind of wake that tragedy leaves behind. The loss of a loved one is immeasurable to those who cared for them, but what about the financial impact? Consider some of the ways a death can impact a family:
- Large medical costs
- Funerary expenses
- Loss of an income source
Those three elements can leave loved ones struggling to make ends meet, which only adds to the hardship experienced due to a death. It’s often hard to even grieve possibly due to the financial stresses piling up. Because of this, it’s important that those impacted consider talking to a wrongful death attorney in Florida. It could help you recover financial so you can focus on moving on with your life after such a profound loss.
What To Expect
If you’ve been impacted by a loved one’s death, the first step towards getting compensation is to speak to an attorney. They’ll review your situation and help make a determination as to what options you have available and whether or not you can seek compensation.
If you can, your lawyer will tell you about the steps that they’ll take and what you can expect. In general, your wrongful death attorney will take care of almost everything. They’ll help push for you to get compensation so you can focus your attention on grieving and trying to move on.
Most wrongful death cases are settled out of court, but an attorney will go all the way to trial if needed. The key is starting the process so you can stop worrying about financial issues and start healing emotionally from this loss. In short, wrongful death law serves an important purpose in the legal system.