If your loved one died because of someone else’s careless or wrongful actions, you can recover damages in a wrongful death case. These damages are meant to cover the losses that happened before your loved one passed away and the losses you have suffered because of their death. They can be both economic (money-related) and non-economic (emotional or quality-of-life losses).
Because Fort Lauderdale has such a mix of residents, tourists, and businesses, wrongful death claims here can involve many different scenarios, such as medical errors in local hospitals, workplace accidents in construction or marine industries, or negligence in hospitality services.
The city’s court system and legal professionals are used to handling cases where both state laws and unique local factors come into play. Having an experienced Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyer is always recommended because these lawyers understand not only the statewide laws but also how local judges, juries, and insurers tend to handle these cases.
What Damages Can Surviving Family Members Recover?
Family members can recover damages that relate to the losses they have suffered since their loved one’s death.
- Funeral and burial costs: Funerals in the U.S. can be expensive, often costing thousands of dollars for services, caskets, and burial plots. These costs can be recovered through a wrongful death claim.
- Loss of financial support: If your loved one contributed financially to your household, you can recover the amount of income they would have provided over their expected lifetime. This is based on their earnings, career path, and life expectancy.
- Loss of companionship and protection: Spouses can recover damages for losing the emotional and personal relationship they had with their partner. Minor children can recover damages for the loss of parental guidance and care.
- Mental pain and suffering: Parents, spouses, and sometimes children can recover damages for the emotional distress they endure because of their loved one’s death. This covers the grief, anguish, and emotional hardship that come with losing someone who played a central role in their lives.
- Special types of damages in Florida: Florida law also allows claims for loss of inheritance if you can prove your loved one would have left you money or property. In rare cases where the at-fault party acted with extreme recklessness or intentional harm, punitive damages may be awarded to punish them and deter similar behavior.
Factors That Affect the Amount of Damages
The amount you can recover depends on:
- The age, health, and life expectancy of your loved one
- Their earning capacity and career potential
- How dependent were you on their support
- The nature of your relationship with them
Summary Points
- Wrongful death damages compensate for financial, emotional, and mental losses.
- Family damages include funeral costs, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and mental suffering.
- The amount of damages depends on factors like the deceased’s age, health, earning capacity, and the family’s dependency on them.
- In Fort Lauderdale, wrongful death cases may involve unique local factors, making experienced local legal guidance essential.
