Are you facing a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one in Deerfield Beach, FL?
Our Deerfield Beach wrongful death attorneys pursue accountability and full financial recovery for surviving families, on a contingency basis with no cost unless we recover.
If a negligent act took the life of a family member in Deerfield Beach, The Andres Lopez Law Firm can pursue the accountability and financial recovery Florida law provides. Our Deerfield Beach, FL wrongful death lawyer manages every part of the claim, from investigating the cause of death to documenting the survivors’ losses and identifying every responsible party. A wrongful death claim cannot undo the loss, but it can secure a family’s financial future and hold the negligent party accountable. The firm handles these cases on a contingency basis, with no cost to the family unless we recover. Call us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation and learn what options your family has under Florida law.
Wrongful Death Lawyer Deerfield Beach, FL
A wrongful death claim is a civil action brought when a person dies because of another party’s negligence or wrongful act. Under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, the claim is filed by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of the surviving family members who depended on the person who died. Those who may recover include the surviving spouse, children, parents, and other relatives who relied on the deceased for support. A wrongful death claim is separate from any criminal case and proceeds in civil court whether or not charges are filed.
Accidents are among the leading causes of death in the United States, responsible for 197,449 deaths in a single recent year. In Deerfield Beach, many fatal accidents occur on Interstate 95 and the county’s high-traffic roads, where a collision at speed can prove fatal. Florida’s Wrongful Death Act is intended to shift the financial burden of a death from the family to the party responsible for it.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Deerfield Beach
A wrongful death claim can follow almost any fatal act of negligence. We represent families after deaths caused by the following:
- Car accidents. Fatal collisions are among the most common causes of wrongful death, and a single high-speed crash can be immediately fatal. Speed, impairment, and distraction are frequent factors.
- Truck accidents. The size and weight of a commercial truck make these crashes especially deadly for people in smaller vehicles. A fully loaded truck can weigh many times what a passenger car does, leaving little margin for survival in a serious collision.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders have little protection in a collision, and a large share of motorcycle crashes are fatal. Even a rider who follows every rule of the road can be killed by another driver’s negligence.
- Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle often suffers fatal injuries, particularly at higher speeds. Crossings and roadways without adequate lighting or signals add to the danger.
- Bicycle accidents. Cyclists are similarly exposed, and a collision with a motor vehicle can be fatal. Many fatal bicycle collisions involve a driver who failed to yield or never saw the rider.
- Rideshare accidents. A fatal crash involving an Uber or Lyft driver can raise questions about which insurance policy applies. Coverage depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, waiting for a request, or carrying a passenger at the time.
- Slip and falls. Falls are a leading cause of injury death among older adults, and a fall on a hazardous property can be fatal. A property owner who ignored a known danger can be held responsible.
- Brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury can prove fatal in the days or weeks after an accident. When a person dies from an injury caused by negligence, the family can pursue a wrongful death claim.
Why Choose The Andres Lopez Law Firm as my Wrongful Death Lawyer in Deerfield Beach, FL?
Experience With Wrongful Death Claims
Families who have lost someone need a lawyer who can investigate the death thoroughly while respecting what they are going through. Andres Lopez has represented injured people and grieving families for nearly two decades, first in Maryland beginning in 2006 and in Florida since 2009. A graduate of the University of Maryland for both his undergraduate and law degrees, he is a member of the Florida Justice Association and the Broward County Bar Association. Our personal injury lawyer in Deerfield Beach, FL keeps the family informed at each step, so they never have to wonder where their case stands.
A Seven-Figure Wrongful Death Recovery
Among the firm’s results is a $1,000,000 wrongful death settlement, the kind of outcome that can provide lasting financial security for a family after a loss. Membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum is limited to attorneys who have secured results of $1 million or more, and Mr. Lopez’s place in it reflects that work. The firm has also helped clients recover millions of dollars in medical malpractice, premises liability, and motor vehicle claims.
- $1,000,000, wrongful death settlement
- $875,000, medical malpractice settlement
- $700,000, slip and fall recovery
- $250,000, motor vehicle policy limits
- $174,500, auto policy limits
Understanding Wrongful Death Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases
Florida law allows the surviving family to recover for the losses a death causes, and the value of a claim depends on the survivors’ relationship to the person who died and the support that person provided. Liability follows the same negligence principles as any injury case: the family must show that another party owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused the death. A wrongful death claim can recover:
- Lost financial support and services the survivors would have received
- Loss of the companionship, guidance, and protection the person provided
- Mental pain and suffering of the surviving spouse, children, and parents
- Medical and funeral expenses paid by the survivors or the estate
- The lost earnings and net accumulations the estate would otherwise have gained
Because these losses extend for many years, a full claim often relies on economic analysis rather than the immediate bills alone. Florida law divides these damages between the survivors and the estate, and different survivors are entitled to different categories of recovery. A surviving spouse may recover for lost companionship and mental pain and suffering, while the estate recovers lost earnings and net accumulations. Because the categories depend on the family’s circumstances, the total value of a wrongful death claim varies widely from one case to the next.
Florida applies a modified comparative fault rule, so any recovery is reduced if the person who died shared responsibility for the event, and a share of fault above fifty percent bars recovery entirely. Compensation is meant to reflect both the financial and the personal loss the survivors have suffered.
What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?
A wrongful death claim has requirements that distinguish it from an ordinary injury claim. Florida law requires the claim to be filed by the personal representative of the estate rather than by individual family members, though the recovery belongs to the survivors. Opening a probate estate is often necessary before the claim can move forward, because only the personal representative has the authority to file, and we can help the family take that step and identify the survivors entitled to recover. Proving the claim means establishing both the negligence that caused the death and the full extent of the family’s losses, which often calls for medical records, financial documentation, and professional analysis.
Florida allows two years from the date of death to file, and when a person survives a catastrophic injury before dying from it, that deadline runs from the death rather than the original injury. Because appointing a representative and investigating the death take time, families benefit from consulting a lawyer well before the deadline approaches. An accurate account of the deceased’s earnings and the family’s dependence on that income is central to the value of the claim.
What Is the Wrongful Death Case Timeline?
A wrongful death case moves through several stages, and the timing depends on the cause of death and the number of parties involved. The first step is often opening an estate and appointing a personal representative who can bring the claim. We then investigate the cause of death, identify every responsible party and insurer, and document the survivors’ losses. Once those losses are established, we present a demand, and if the offer does not reflect the family’s loss, we file suit and prepare the case for trial.
Because a death frequently involves several potential defendants, these cases can take longer to resolve than a routine injury claim. We also coordinate with any parallel criminal investigation, since a fatal accident may involve law enforcement, and evidence gathered there can support the civil claim. The most complex cases, particularly those involving several defendants or a government entity, can take a year or more to resolve, and throughout that time we keep the family informed at each step.
What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?
The following documents help us evaluate a wrongful death claim:
- The death certificate and any accident or incident report
- Medical records related to the final injury or illness
- Documentation of the deceased’s income and financial support
- Records of funeral and burial expenses already paid
- Any correspondence already received from insurers or the responsible party
There is no charge for the consultation, and we can explain how a wrongful death claim would proceed and what to expect.
Reach Out to The Andres Lopez Law Firm to Schedule a Consultation
Our Deerfield Beach wrongful death lawyer can review the circumstances of the death and explain the family’s options under Florida law. The Andres Lopez Law Firm handles wrongful death cases on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we recover for the family. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation.