Sarasota Wrongful Death Lawyer

It’s devastating to lose a loved one through someone else’s careless or intentional acts, but the implications extend far beyond your grief. There’s a void left behind when the deceased individual is no longer financially supporting the household, and the losses related to other contributions are immeasurable. Fortunately, Florida’s wrongful death statute provides a right of action to certain family members when a victim dies through the misconduct of another person. During these difficult times, however, the legal process can be daunting.

Instead of trying to tackle challenges on your own, trust our team at Barbas, Nuñez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian, Attorneys and Counselors at Law to pursue your rights in a wrongful death claim. We prioritize your needs throughout the process, so please contact our office to set up a free consultation with a Sarasota wrongful death lawyer. You can also check out some important information about our legal services.

Comprehensive Representation in Wrongful Death Cases

Our attorneys have the dedication, experience, and in-depth legal knowledge to assist with a wide range of wrongful death claims. These cases typically arise out of:

Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes;
Pedestrian, bicycle, and scooter accidents;
Slips and falls, and other incidents that occur because property owners don’t properly maintain their premises;
Injuries to victims from defective, dangerous products;
Construction accidents and other workplace incidents;
Dog bites and animal attacks;
Boat and watercraft accidents;
Intentional, criminal assault, attacks, and abuse; and,
Many other forms of misconduct.

Liability in Florida Wrongful Death Claims

In a case based upon negligence, you must prove that the decedent died because another person or entity breached the legal duty to exercise reasonable care. You also need to establish a link between the breach and the accident in which your loved one was killed.

However, only certain individuals have standing to bring a claim for wrongful death. Under Florida law, only the personal representative has authority to file a case. This would typically be someone named as executor in a will or appointed by a probate court; he or she seeks compensation on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, parents, and other individuals listed in the statute.

Our attorneys at Barbas, Nuñez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian will assist with the legal process to ensure you get fair compensation in a wrongful death case, which may include:

Expenses incurred for the victim’s medical treatment;
Funeral and burial costs;
Lost wages and future earning capacity that the victim would have contributed;
Implications related to how the deceased person’s absence affect you personally, commonly termed losses of consortium, guidance, education, love, and companionship.

A Sarasota Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help Ease the Legal Burdens

If you lost a loved one through negligent or intentional conduct, please contact Barbas, Nuñez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian, Attorneys and Counselors at Law to learn more about your legal options. You can reach our Sarasota office to schedule a no-cost case evaluation by calling 800.227.2275 or via our website. Once we review your circumstances, we can advise you on your rights.

By Stephen M. Barbas | Posted on April 28, 2020

St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Lawyer

The death of a loved one can be immensely painful. When that death was caused by the carelessness of another, it becomes even harder to imagine feeling happiness ever again. If you have suffered such a loss, we may be able to be of some service in helping to bring about justice and providing a more stable economic future for your family. Contact us to discuss your legal options with one of our St. Petersburg wrongful death lawyers at your soonest convenience.

Negligent Acts are Breaches in Duty of Care

In order for another party to be held financially accountable for the damages suffered by you and your family, that party must have violated their duty to act with care. This duty of care comes in many forms and spans all aspects of our society. From obeying traffic laws, to keeping the floors of a restaurant safe for invitees, to providing a high standard of medical care, drivers, property owners, and doctors alike must all uphold this duty. Only when this duty is broken, and there is substantial supporting evidence to show that it was broken, can a wrongful death lawsuit be filed against the negligent party.

Who are the Survivors?

The financial compensation for damages to the survivors includes the family members listed below, according to Florida statutes 768.81. A survivor is the deceased’s:

Spouse;
Children (including children born of the mother out of wedlock but not born of the father out of wedlock);
Parents; and
Any blood relatives or adopted brothers and sisters who were partially or wholly dependant on the decedent for support or services.

What is Considered Financial Compensation of a Wrongful Death?

New research done by Stanford economists argues that the value of one quality year of human life is $129,000. It is a crude and inhuman task to put a pricetag on someone’s life. No monetary amount of compensation, or anything else for that matter, can come even close to righting the wrongs made by the negligent party. However, the compensation can go a long way to aiding in your and your family’s recovery, as well as helping to ease the burden of current and future costs associated with the death. A wrongful death lawsuit or settlement may also be able to provide finances for building a strong future for your family. Depending on the specifics of your case and the financial or insured state of the negligent party, you may be able to be compensated for the following:

Pain and suffering;
Loss of enjoyment in life, or companionship for the spouse;
Loss of companionship and guidance for the children;
Lost support and services;
Lost wages;
Lost inheritance;
Medical expenses of the deceased;
Funeral costs; and
Punitive damages

Contact Our Experienced St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Lawyers

If the life of your loved one was taken away by a careless, negligent, or reckless act of another, do not hesitate to contact a wrongful death lawyer of the St. Petersburg law office of Barbas, Nuñez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian at 1-800-227-2275 today.

By Stephen M. Barbas | Posted on October 25, 2016

Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyer

No one is truly prepared to deal with an unexpected loss of a loved one, and the pain can be compounded when the death occurred because of the negligence or recklessness of another person. Our experienced Tampa wrongful death lawyers understand how difficult dealing with this loss can be and is here to help you through this troubling time.

Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyers Are Here To Help

The last thing that anyone wants to do when dealing with the unexpected loss of a loved one is simultaneously deal with a legal claim. An experienced wrongful death lawyer is able to lift the burden of dealing with the law so that you can properly grieve your loss. The lawyer can handle all communication and negotiation with the other party, lawyers, and insurance companies.

In addition, a Tampa wrongful death lawyer can conduct an independent investigation of the event to determine what the proper amount of compensation should be for your loss. A lawyer can advocate on your behalf in court and navigate the legal process so that you do not have to.

Florida Wrongful Death Act

Sections 768.16 – 768.26 of the Florida State Code comprise the Florida Wrongful Death Act. The purpose of this act is to shift the monetary losses of a person’s wrongful death from their loved ones to the party responsible for the loss. The law provides that the victim’s personal representative, spouse, children, and parents can all bring an action for wrongful death in a Florida court.

Loved ones can file a lawsuit for wrongful death whenever “the death of a person is caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person . . . and the event would have entitled the person injured to maintain an action and recover damages if death had not ensued.”

Let the Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyers Help Win You Compensation for Wrongful Death

Under the law, the family of the victim of a wrongful death may be entitled to compensatory and punitive damages for their loss. Typically, the court will look at the relationship to the victim, the victim’s net income, and the replacement value of the victim’s services to the loved ones when determining the proper amount of compensation. Compensatory damages for a case of wrongful death can include:

Loss of companionship for the spouse;
Loss of companionship and guidance for the children;
Pain and suffering;
Lost support and services;
Lost wages;
Lost inheritance;
Medical expenses; and
Funeral costs.

In addition, the court may award punitive damages on top of what is owed if it is found that intentional, reckless, or negligent actions led to the death. You need an experienced Tampa wrongful death lawyer.

Contact a Tampa Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

Dealing with the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences to endure, and you do not need the stress of a lawsuit added to your grief. If you or someone that you know has lost someone in a wrongful death accident in Tampa Bay, the Tampa wrongful death lawyers at Barbas, Nuñez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian are here to advocate on behalf of you and your loved ones. Call the office or contact us today for a free and private review of your case.

By Stephen M. Barbas | Posted on May 14, 2015