North Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyer
No amount of money could possibly fill the void left by a sudden drowning or other wrongful death. That’s especially true if the victim was a small child. However, the available compensation reduces the grief that survivors feel. Furthermore, the money helps survivors pay the victim’s final expenses and move on with their lives. That’s what the decedent would have wanted.
So, since we cannot turn back the clock and reverse an accident, the dedicated North Tampa wrongful death lawyers at the Rinaldo Law Group do the next best thing. We quickly and thoroughly evaluate your case to determine your legal options. Then, once we decide on a course of action, we fight for you in the courtroom and around the negotiating table. Furthermore, we openly communicate with you throughout the process, so you are never in the dark.
Common Causes of Unintentional Death
Media outlets often talk about “accidental” death. Typically, however, there is nothing “accidental” about these injuries. Usually, these incidents involve negligence, which is a lack of care. Sometimes, multiple negligent parties are involved. Some examples include:
- Car Wrecks: Legal responsibility usually lies with the at-fault driver. Frequently, a third party is financially responsible for injuries. For example, if owners allow incompetent people to drive their cars, owners are responsible for damages if the operator causes a wreck.
- Poisoning: These incidents usually involve drug overdoses. Obviously, the victims bear some responsibility. However, someone, perhaps a doctor who didn’t ask too many questions, provided those drugs. Someone else, perhaps a property owner, offered the victim a place to use them. These people cannot hide behind the victim’s act.
- Falls: As Florida’s population ages, the fall fatality rate continues climbing. These incidents are especially serious if the victim is a repeat faller. Property owners, such as nursing home owners, have a special duty of care to protect these vulnerable victims.
The underlying facts in a wrongful death claim are usually much the same as the facts in a personal injury claim. However, as outlined below, there are some procedural differences between these two actions.
Your Claim for Damages
Usually, the decedent’s personal representative must file wrongful death damage claims in Florida. Personal representatives file claims on behalf of the estate and on behalf of survivors. In other words, they basically wear two hats.
The estate is usually entitled to compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as the decedent’s pain and suffering, which are directly related to the wrongful death. To obtain this compensation, which usually goes to the estate and then to the estate’s heirs, the personal representative must prove negligence, or a lack of care, by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not.
Survivors are entitled to compensation as well. Generally, this compensation includes lost future financial support and lost future emotional support.
These items are very difficult to calculate, particularly if the decedent was very young. So, attorneys usually partner with accountants, psychologists, and other experts in these situations. Working together, these team members make jurors fully aware of the void the wrongful death has created.
Contact a Competent Hillsborough County Lawyer
Injury victims deserve fair compensation for their serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced North Tampa wrongful death attorney, contact the Rinaldo Law Group. After-hours visits are available.
