Losing someone you love because of another person’s careless or reckless actions leaves a wound that goes far beyond grief. The financial pressure, the unanswered questions, and the sense that justice hasn’t been served can weigh on a family for years.
If you’re in Sarasota and someone else’s negligence took the life of a person you depended on and loved, the Sarasota wrongful death lawyers at Shapiro | Delgado are here to help you hold the responsible party accountable. Call us today at (941) 954-4000 for a free consultation.
Florida’s Wrongful Death Act defines this type of claim as a death caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person or company.
In plain terms, if someone’s poor choices, careless behavior, or failure to act responsibly caused your loved one’s death, Florida law gives your family the right to seek compensation.
Common causes of wrongful death cases in Sarasota include:
Unlike a criminal case, a wrongful death claim doesn’t need an arrest or conviction to move forward. It seeks financial compensation for the losses your family has suffered as a result of that death.
Florida law allows certain surviving family members to bring these claims. The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate files the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of eligible survivors. Those survivors may include:
Each eligible survivor may be entitled to different types of compensation depending on their relationship to the person who died and the losses they’ve personally experienced.
Surviving family members can seek compensation for both the financial and personal losses that follow a loved one’s death. The damages available depend on your relationship to the deceased and the specific circumstances of the case.
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses your family has suffered. These are the costs and losses you can document with bills, pay stubs, and financial records:
Florida law also recognizes that some losses can’t be assigned a dollar amount from a spreadsheet.
These damages are real, even when they’re harder to quantify. Our team works with financial and medical professionals to build a complete picture of everything your family has lost.
The personal representative of your loved one’s estate may also pursue damages on behalf of the estate itself. This includes any pain and suffering your loved one experienced between the injury and their death, as well as lost earnings and medical expenses incurred during that period.
Hiring an attorney is the single most important step your family can take after a wrongful death because the legal system is built for those who know how to use it, and insurance companies are counting on grieving families not to.
From the moment a fatal accident occurs, insurers and defense attorneys begin building their case. They preserve evidence, record statements, and work toward minimizing what they pay. Without legal representation, your family faces that machinery alone, at the worst possible time.
At Shapiro | Delgado, we step in immediately and take the weight of the legal process off your shoulders:
Insurance companies have experienced legal teams working for them. Your family deserves the same. Call Shapiro | Delgado at (941) 954-4000 for a free consultation. There’s no cost, no obligation, and no fees unless we win.
Shapiro | Delgado stands apart because of a proven record of results, more than 100 years of combined legal experience, and over $300 million recovered for injury victims and their families throughout Florida.
Our attorneys bring recognized credentials to every case we handle:
Our firm is bilingual, award-winning, and built around a single mission: maximum compensation through diligent, attentive, and aggressive advocacy. We have the resources to go up against large insurance companies and the courtroom experience to back it up.
We handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. If we don’t recover compensation for your family, you owe us nothing.
From the time you first contact us to the resolution of your case, here’s how the process typically unfolds.
First, we conduct a thorough intake and case evaluation during your free consultation. We listen to what happened, ask the right questions, and give you an honest assessment of your case. If we believe your family has a viable claim, we begin the investigation immediately.
Next, we build the evidentiary foundation. This includes obtaining the police report, medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage, and any other documentation that supports your wrongful death claim. In cases involving medical malpractice or product liability, we work with qualified professionals to analyze the technical details.
Once we’ve built your case, we file the lawsuit and enter the discovery phase, during which both sides exchange evidence and take depositions. Many wrongful death cases resolve through settlement negotiations before reaching trial, but if the responsible party’s insurer won’t offer a fair amount, we’re fully prepared to take your case before a Sarasota jury.
Throughout this process, we keep you informed and involved without burdening you with unnecessary procedural details. Our job is to handle the legal fight so you can begin to heal.
Florida law gives surviving family members two years from the date of their loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing that deadline almost always means losing the right to recover compensation entirely, regardless of how strong your case is.
Two years may feel like plenty of time when you’re in the middle of grief. However, the window closes faster than most families expect, especially when you factor in how much preparation a strong case requires.
In most wrongful death cases, the two-year period begins on the date of death. However, certain circumstances can affect that timeline:
Even if you believe you have time, don’t wait to contact a personal injury attorney. It can put your case at risk. Evidence disappears. Witnesses become harder to locate. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. The sooner we get involved, the better positioned we are to build a complete and compelling case for your family.
Shapiro | Delgado handles wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family. During your free consultation, we’ll explain exactly how our fee structure works so there are no surprises.
Florida follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your family may still recover compensation even if your loved one was partly at fault. The amount recovered is reduced in proportion to their share of fault. A skilled attorney can help assess how this rule applies to your specific situation and fight to minimize any reduction in your family’s recovery.
Every case is different. Some cases settle within several months once liability is clear and damages are documented. Others, particularly those involving disputed facts or significant damages, may take a year or more to resolve. We’ll give you a realistic timeline during your consultation based on the specifics of your case.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible. In the meantime, preserve any evidence you have access to, avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters, and keep records of all expenses related to your loved one’s death. The earlier we get involved, the better positioned we are to build a strong case on your family’s behalf.
Yes. A civil wrongful death claim and a criminal case are completely separate proceedings. A criminal case is brought by the state and focuses on punishment. A civil wrongful death claim is brought by your family and focuses on compensation.
The outcome of one does not prevent the other from moving forward, and you don’t have to wait for a criminal case to conclude before filing a civil claim.
Your family has been through enough. The grief is real, the financial strain is real, and the need for answers is real. Shapiro | Delgado is here to carry the legal burden so your family doesn’t have to face this alone.
We’re proud to serve families throughout Sarasota, from the barrier islands to the inland communities of Sarasota County. Our team is focused, experienced, and deeply committed to getting justice for the people we represent.
Call us at (941) 954-4000 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation. We’ll review the details of your case, answer your questions honestly, and help you understand your options. There’s no obligation and no cost to speak with us. We’re ready when you are.
