West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawyers

– Client Reviews

No matter how a wrongful death occurred, the sudden loss of a loved one can be devastating.

Although filing a lawsuit is certainly not a top priority when you are grieving the loss of your loved one, our West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyers understand that pursuing compensation for the losses you suffered can be an important step. Compensation may also help to ease the financial burden that is often left behind.

If your loved one’s death was caused by the negligent or intentional acts of another, we are committed to helping you hold the at-fault parties accountable. Our trusted team of licensed attorneys has a successful record of recovering compensation to help surviving loved ones recover from their losses. This includes a recovery of $33 million for the wrongful death of a 63-year-old and $6 million for the death of someone at an assisted living facility.

Founding member Robert Gordon is a past president of the Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

We proudly work on a contingency fee basis and do not get paid unless you recover a fair verdict or settlement.

Learn more about your legal options. Call us 24/7 at 1 (855) 722-2552.

What is a Wrongful Death?

Under Florida state law, a wrongful death is defined as one caused by negligence, breach of contract or warranty, default or any wrongful act. If your loved one had not died, he or she would have been eligible to pursue damages against the liable party.

There are many ways that a wrongful death may occur, including:

At Gordon & Partners, we are prepared to review the circumstances that led to your loved one’s death and help determine whether you may have grounds for pursuing a wrongful death claim. Our firm offers a completely free legal consultation for this purpose and to explain more about what to expect during the legal process.

Who May Be Eligible to File A Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Under state law, wrongful death claims can only be filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of the estate and surviving family members. The lawsuit must list every survivor with an interest in the case, such as the deceased victim’s spouse, children, adopted children, and blood relatives or adopted siblings who are partly or wholly dependent on the deceased for services or support.

If you are unsure of your eligibility to file a case, contact us today. During your free, no-obligation consultation, we are ready to discuss your specific circumstances and determine if you may have a case.

Contact Gordon & Partners at 1 (855) 722-2552 to learn more.

How Hiring an Experienced Attorney May Benefit Your Claim

Our West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyers are dedicated to upholding the rights of the injured, including those who have lost a loved one to wrongful death. If we validate your case, we are ready to guide you through every step of the legal process. If you have a case and we represent you, we are prepared to fight tirelessly to recover the compensation you need, which may include the following steps:

• Fully investigating the accident
• Gathering supportive evidence to help build a strong case
• Dealing directly with the insurance companies on your behalf
• Utilizing our vast knowledge of state law to your advantage
• Accurately determining the value of your claim
• Negotiating for fair compensation on your behalf
• Keeping you fully informed about your case
• Preparing for trial if going to court becomes necessary

Steps for Proving Negligence

In addition to gathering strong evidence to help build a robust claim, your attorney must prove that another party caused the untimely death of your loved one through negligent or deliberate actions.

Our firm’s lawyers have extensive knowledge of Florida’s laws, and we know what it takes to establish the four key elements of negligence required in a wrongful death case. To do this, your attorney must establish that one or more parties:

How Much is a Wrongful Death Case Worth?

Every case is different, and the final amount of compensation awarded in a claim is determined by many contributing factors. Our team of legal professionals understands that no amount of money can bring back your loved one. However, compensation may help to ease the financial burden of your loved one’s final medical costs, funeral expenses, lost wages and more.

If you are eligible to pursue a claim, some of the most common forms of recoverable damages include:

• Compensation for the lost income the deceased would have provided
• Medical bills, funeral expenses, burial costs and other expenses associated with a death
• Lost benefits such as insurance and retirement
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of emotional support
• The mental anguish of the decedent’s surviving family members
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of care, protection and guidance a child or spouse would have received from the deceased
• Property damages
• Benefits the decedent was eligible for prior to death

State law lays out who can recover different types of damages, for example, minor children can recover compensation for lost parental companionship if there is no surviving spouse. Both parents of a deceased minor child may recover for mental pain and suffering from the date of the injury.

In cases where the wrongful death was the result of gross negligence, or a reckless or intentional act, punitive damages may also be awarded. These damages are intended to serve as a form of punishment for the defendant and a way to discourage others from engaging in similar behavior.

Our West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyers know the hardships that result from the death of a loved one. We are prepared to fight to secure maximum compensation on your behalf and on behalf of your loved one. (Florida, unlike some other states, does not place a cap on the amount of compensation you can recover.)

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form to get started today.

How Does a Survival Action Differ from a Wrongful Death Claim?

The goal of a wrongful death claim is to pursue recovery of damages suffered by the surviving family members, such as loss of emotional support and loss of income.

Florida allows the personal representative of the estate to pursue a survival action for damages suffered by the victim between the time of the injury and his or her death. These are losses that would have been part of a personal injury claim that might have been filed if the victim survived.

Damages that may be available in a survival action include:

• All medical costs associated with the victim’s injury
• Lost wages
• Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering
• Property damages

Unlike the compensation for a wrongful death claim, which is awarded directly to surviving beneficiaries, compensation awarded in a survival action are distributed to the decedent’s estate.

However, Florida is different from other states because you cannot file both claims. You must decide which claim to file. Our knowledgeable attorneys at Gordon & Partners can help you to determine the option that may best apply in your situation.

Our representatives are standing by at 1 (855) 722-2552 to take your call, day or night.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?

In Florida, the representative of the deceased’s estate has two years from the date of death to file a claim for damages. The statute of limitations for a survival action is also two years. However, it is important to be aware that there may be exceptions that could shorten that time frame.

When you meet with one of our attorneys in your free consultation, we can help determine the date that may apply to your situation.

We strongly recommend that you do not delay pursuing a claim. If you miss your deadline, you will be barred from making a claim for recovery.

If you think your deadline may have already passed, it is still a good idea to contact one of our attorneys. There are some exceptions that may extend your filing deadline.

Helpful Resources After the Sudden Loss of a Loved One

After the traumatic and unexpected loss of a loved one, getting support as you grieve can be helpful. Adults often deal with grief in a very different way than teens or young children. While managing your own grief, it can sometimes be difficult for a parent to understand what his or her child or teen may be experiencing. Finding a focused grief program may provide help, support and insight throughout your own journey.

Some grief resources, both in Florida and nationally include:

Speak with a West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

At the law offices of Gordon & Partners, our attorneys have represented families who suffered the devastating loss of a loved one. We are prepared to help you obtain maximum compensation to help provide financial relief as you try to move forward.

In our 20-plus years of experience, the attorneys at our firm have obtained hundreds of millions in compensation for injured victims in Florida.

Learn more about how we may be able to help by calling our law offices anytime, day or night. Our representatives are ready to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your potential case. If we represent you, there are no upfront costs and no fees to pay. We do not get paid unless you do.

Free Consultation. No Upfront Fees. Call 1 (855) 722-2552