The death of a cherished loved one is devastating and life-changing, no matter how young or old the surviving friends and family are. Grief caused by death is painful – especially death caused by a third party’s negligent action or inaction.
If this circumstance describes what you are now facing and you have lost a loved one due to someone’s negligence, we strongly encourage you to seek legal representation from experienced wrongful death attorneys like those at our firm, Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann.
At Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann, we are committed to fighting for justice for our clients and holding those responsible accountable for their actions. We are dedicated to providing our clients with compassionate and dedicated legal representation during this trying time. Our commitment to justice is so significant that we never take compensation unless we win your case.
Contact our Sarasota wrongful death attorneys today to learn how we can help you and your family through our free, no-obligation wrongful death case review. We’re ready to work for you.
As a popular destination for retirees, Florida has a large population of residents over age 65, with 21.1% of the population past retirement age.
While retiring in a warm climate with beautiful beaches can attract many seniors, the Sunshine State proportionally experiences more deaths than other states with younger populations.
Sadly, this also means wrongful death cases can be more prevalent in Florida. The Florida Department Of Health and Bureau of Vital Statistics found that accidents make up the third leading cause of death in Florida, with 17,654 individuals perishing from accidents in 2021. In Sarasota County, there were 448 deaths stemming from unintentional injuries. Neither of these figures includes motor vehicle accidents or homicides.
The statistics on wrongful deaths in Florida are sobering. We encourage everyone to remember that these statistics represent real people and families impacted by this tragedy. Many families in Florida suffer the devastating loss of a loved one each year, whether due to car accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, or other forms of negligence. Let our compassionate and experienced Sarasota wrongful death attorneys help you through this process to recover.
Wrongful death is formally defined and codified under Florida statute. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.19, wrongful death happens when a third party causes the victim’s death through a “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty.”
Situations that could lead to a victim’s wrongful death are circumstances such as:
Injuries that could lead to a wrongful death case include:
Additionally, wrongful death cases can also include intentional, malicious acts – such as crimes.
Since wrongful deaths can also include criminal activity, what’s the difference between a civil personal injury case and the criminal justice system’s process? Considering these questions, it’s important to contemplate the core differences between criminal and civil courts.
The purpose of a civil court is for one person (plaintiff) to bring a case against another person, business, or government agency. The primary purpose of civil litigation is to compensate a plaintiff for injuries and make the plaintiff economically and financially whole – like they were before the incident.
The types of subjects in civil courts largely stem from disputes or problems between the plaintiff and defendant. These can be money, property, personal injury, workplace discrimination, and civil rights.
As opposed to civil courts, the criminal justice system’s primary goal is to punish the defendant per the laws of that jurisdiction. In criminal cases, there is no plaintiff, just a defendant versus the state in the legal jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
When someone files a wrongful death suit in Florida and other states, they file a civil action. If the state had found that the third party who caused the death was acting with the intent to take the victim’s life, the state might also file a homicide case against that individual.
Economic damages recovered in a wrongful death case in Florida can cover tangible costs such as funeral expenses, medical expenses, and loss of earnings of the deceased. Additionally, minor children of the deceased can recover non-economic damages that cover domains such as loss of parental companionship and guidance and mental pain and suffering.
It is important to note that, unlike other states across the country, in Florida only the descendant’s personal representative (the executor of the estate) is eligible to file a case.
Shapiro Delgado is great! I found them through reviews online. I reached out and they were able to provide the help I needed with my case. Adam was extremely punctual and easy to talk to which made the process less stressful for me. I was always updated and kept in the loop. Highly recommend!
– Jake H.
I’ve known Adam Shapiro for many years, and there isn’t anyone else in Florida that I’d trust with my case.
Adam and his team made the entire process easy, made me feel important and understood, and worked tirelessly to get us justice.
I highly recommend working with Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann.
– Sam M.
The mistake I made was not calling David much sooner. His knowledge and skills proved to be so important in putting what was a very difficult period behind me. I really just can’t say enough great things about David and Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann.
If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, the team at Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann can provide compassionate legal representation.
We understand the devastating impact that a wrongful death can have on a family and are passionate about pursuing justice on your behalf. With decades of combined experience, we have a proven track record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Some successful wrongful death cases include the following settlements and verdicts:
Throughout our firm’s extensive casework, we have won our clients over $100 million in jury verdicts and settlements. We work tirelessly to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable and that our clients receive the compensation they deserve.
Get started with us today by requesting your free, no-obligation case review to work toward winning your Sarasota wrongful death case.
