How A Sarasota Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help
Losing a loved one to a traffic accident is one of the worst things that can happen to any family in Sarasota, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, or other parts of SW Florida. The pain and shock of such a loss is something that will last a lifetime, but it’s even worse if that death was unnecessary. While it’s understood that sometimes illnesses like cancer can take a life, if an accident happens that could have been avoided had another person been paying attention to the road, it can make that loss all the more painful and senseless.
In these situations, a wrongful death lawyer can be an important advocate, but what can they do?
Inform & Protect Your Rights
The most important thing that a Sarasota wrongful death lawyer brings to the table is an awareness of Florida law with regard to wrongful death and what your rights are as a surviving victim, as well as to whom this legal protection applies.
While a spouse is an obvious candidate for wrongful death, others this may apply to include:
- • Surviving Parents
- • Children
Blood Relatives Or Adopted Sibling Who Are Dependents
It’s important to know which family members qualify for seeking compensation and ensure their rights are taken care of.
Investigate The Death
A wrongful death lawsuit can’t proceed without evidence to prove the argument. This is where investigation becomes critical, and a wrongful death lawyer puts a lot of effort into this phase. It is not enough for a family to claim wrongful death; there must be sufficiently convincing evidence to support the assertion.
Wrongful death lawyers can be invaluable here as they have the legal experience and investigative resources to quickly do the job a family in the middle of terrible loss needs. Wrongful death lawyers can interview eyewitnesses, collect police records, and know what kind of evidence will be suitable for presentation in court if it comes down to fighting a wrongful death lawsuit.
Navigate The Legal Challenges
If there is any dispute about the wrongful death of a loved one, the only way to get a resolution is to go to court and get a verdict from a judge or jury. A wrongful death attorney is essential here for several reasons. Attorneys have trial experience, so they know how to guide surviving family members through this process. Perhaps more importantly, wrongful death attorneys have the legal knowledge to understand what a surviving family is entitled to regarding financial compensation. In many cases, an inexperienced family will have very little idea what a fair amount is for them and often negotiate for too low amounts.
Wrongful death attorneys can realistically calculate financial damage, considering more than just what a loved one is “worth” if they were a “breadwinner.” For example, some families may make the mistake of thinking that the death of a child doesn’t entitle them to much in the way of financial compensation because a child isn’t employed. Therefore loss of salary can’t be calculated.
However, pain and suffering and even potential future income are all variables that can factor into calculating compensation in a wrongful death, and an attorney is experienced in weighing these considerations. The lawyer may also recommend a trial if an insurance company is only willing to quickly settle out of court for a token amount that does not represent the true cost of the loss.
If you’ve lost a loved one to a negligent act on the road, talk to an experienced wrongful death attorney about your loss. You’ll get the guidance you need at a difficult time and an advocate that will fight to ensure that the high cost of this loss is properly recognized in a court of law.
