If you lost a loved one in an accident you suspect occurred due to negligence, our West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyers can protect your rights. We accept cases involving car crashes, motorcycle collisions, slip and falls, and truck accidents, among other types of events.
No settlement will bring your loved one back, but it could help compensate for your expenses and income loss while holding the negligent party responsible for their actions. Call the West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free consultation. Let us do the fighting so you do not have to.
How A West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Accident Lawyer Could Help
When you trust our compassionate personal injury attorneys to handle your claim, we will provide caring assistance in this difficult time of grief and emotional upheaval.
Our lawyers will work diligently to investigate your loved one’s death and build the strongest possible claim on your behalf. In most cases, we submit your claim to the at-fault party’s liability insurance carrier and negotiate until we reach an agreeable settlement.
When Do We File A Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Sometimes, we must file a wrongful death lawsuit to achieve the best possible outcome. This could happen if:
- We cannot agree on settlement terms or amounts.
- The insurance adjuster or other representative is operating in bad faith.
- The process dragged on or stalled.
- There are disagreements regarding liability.
Sometimes, filing a civil lawsuit can jump start negotiations, allowing us to settle out of court. Other times, we may need to proceed to trial to reach a verdict at a venue like the Fourth District Circuit Court. At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we are prepared for every possibility.
Our Lawyers Fight Stubborn Insurance Companies With Evidence
We compile evidence to bolster your wrongful death claim and combat any of the above issues. Our legal team can obtain documentation that includes some or all of the following items, depending on the nature of the fatal accident or incident:
- Accident reports
- Photos or videos from the scene
- Witness statements
- Doctor and medical expert testimony
- Medical records
- Reports and records from the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office
- Equipment maintenance and repair logs
- Company safety policies and accident history
Throughout this process, we will act as your advocate, protecting your legal rights and handling all aspects of your case, freeing you to spend time with family and friends as you work through your shock, sorrow, and grief.
Our wrongful death attorneys in West Palm Beach fight tirelessly to resolve cases quickly, allowing clients to move forward with the knowledge that their future will be financially secure.
Get Responsive Care From Our Personal Injury Attorneys
Gathering evidence is just one facet of our approach to your case. Our personal injury law firm serves grieving families by:
- Scheduling appointments
- Reconstructing and analyzing the accident
- Consulting experts like doctors and economists
- Talking to insurance companies
- Understanding your eligibility to file a claim or suit
- Determining who to hold accountable and standing up to them
- Knowing which damages you are eligible for
- Navigating complicated legal concepts and legal forms
When you hire the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, you receive access to your lawyer’s personal phone number. Don’t hesitate to call, text, or reach out to us in other ways if you have any concerns or questions. We realize you are looking for support during this time, and we are here to provide it.
How Much Is Your Florida Wrongful Death Claim Worth?
A West Palm Beach lawyer from our firm can determine which damages you are entitled to by identifying the actual damages you suffered (or will suffer) due to the loss of your spouse, parent, or child. This could include the damages listed in the table below:
| Type of Compensation | Description |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Costs for medical care prior to death, including hospital bills and emergency services. |
| Funeral and Burial Costs | Expenses related to funeral services, cremation, or burial. |
| Property Damage | Expenses related to repairing or replacing any property that was damaged, including vehicles or electronics. |
| Loss of Support and Services | Financial contributions and household services the deceased would have provided. |
| Loss of Companionship | Emotional pain and suffering due to the loss of a loved one’s companionship and guidance. |
| Lost Wages and Benefits | Income and benefits the deceased would have earned, including potential future earnings. |
| Pain and Suffering of the Deceased | Conscious pain and suffering experienced by the deceased before passing away. |
Note that the availability of certain damages may depend on your relationship to the deceased and the specifics of the case. Our legal team can establish the specific damages you and your family experienced due to the wrongful death of your loved one. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today to learn more for free.
Who Is Eligible To Collect Economic And Non-Economic Damages?
Florida Statutes § 768.20 only allows the deceased’s personal representative to take legal action. However, multiple parties could benefit from that action, including the surviving:
- Spouse
- Parent(s)
- Child(ren)
You can recover damages based on your relationship with your lost loved one. For instance, surviving spouses can receive compensation for the loss of companionship, while surviving children can receive damages for the loss of parental guidance.
Who Is Eligible To Collect Punitive Damages?
In rare cases, survivors have a legal basis for requesting punitive damages, which are designed to punish the person responsible for your loved one’s death. These damages are only available in cases involving extreme negligence or malice.
Our wrongful death attorneys in West Palm Beach will explore every option for recovering financial compensation. Our investigation can determine whether or not you qualify for punitive damages in addition to the compensatory damages discussed above.
Common Causes Of Wrongful Death Accidents In West Palm Beach
Under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, a wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the negligence, wrongful act, breach of contract, or default of another party. Any fatality that results from an act of negligence may qualify as a wrongful death. Some of the more common causes of wrongful deaths include:
- Slip and fall accidents: Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries in older adults in Florida, according to Florida Health. Such accidents claimed over 3,800 lives in 2021.
- Motor vehicle accidents: Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reports that a total of 194 people died in 182 traffic accidents in Palm Beach County in 2023.
- Motorcycle accidents: Twenty-one people died in motorcycle crashes in 2023 in Palm Beach County, according to FLHSMV data.
- Pedestrian accidents: Per FLHSMV, there were 54 pedestrian fatalities in Palm Beach County in 2023.
- Bus accidents: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 33 people died in 31 bus accidents in Florida in 2023.
- Commercial trucking accidents: FMCSA data shows that 292 people were killed in truck accidents throughout the state in 2023.
- Defective product accidents: Any of the above accidents could involve a defective product, such as faulty brakes, tires, or building materials.
Any type of fatal accident is sure to have a devastating effect on your family. Know that the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is here to support you with a legal approach that our clients describe as “very attentive,” “extremely professional,” and “friendly, honest and sincere.” We will answer your questions and address your concerns, including the cost to hire a lawyer.
What Should You Do After A Wrongful Death?
It is understandable if you feel overwhelmed after a sudden and fatal accident. If you are unsure of what to do, what your rights are, or how much your case might be worth, consider taking the following actions:
Preserve All Evidence Related To The Wrongful Death
It is our West Palm Beach attorneys’ job to collect evidence in your case, but you can make this process go much more smoothly by retaining copies of all materials related to the accident. For example, if you have copies of your loved one’s medical records or bills from the funeral home, keep these materials.
Get Legal Advice
It is crucial to act promptly after a fatal accident, as Florida imposes a statute of limitations of two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline could mean you lose your right to compensation.
Consult Our Lawyers Before Speaking With The Insurance Company
Insurance companies often act quickly after an accident. They might try to take advantage of your grief and confusion to get you to settle for an amount that does not cover all of your losses, or they might manipulate you into saying something that puts your case or your rights in jeopardy.
If the insurance company tries to speak with you, take these steps:
- Do not agree to any requests they make
- Politely tell them that you want all communications to go through your attorney
- Give them our contact information
Navigating the legal landscape of wrongful death claims in West Palm Beach requires a thorough understanding of the law and the local legal system. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can provide structure and guidance during these tumultuous days.
Demonstrating Negligence In A Wrongful Death Claim In West Palm Beach
How our legal team proves liability in your wrongful death action depends on the circumstances of your case. Typically, we must show that another party’s negligent or reckless behavior led directly to your loved one’s fatal injury. This threshold is expressed through the four legal elements of negligence:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Actual damages
Examples Of How Negligence Leads To Wrongful Death
Negligence presents differently from case type to case type and even between individual cases. It might apply to a fatal car accident like this:
- Motorists owe a duty of care to others on the roadway. They can fulfill this duty by remaining alert and obeying traffic laws.
- If a driver was sending text messages or otherwise not paying attention to the road, their actions violated or breached their duty of care.
- If the distracted driver crossed over the center line and caused a head-on collision, we can demonstrate how their breach of dutycaused the fatal accident.
- Once we establish liability in this manner, the last step is to demonstrate your actual damages by providing appropriate documentation to support the assertion that your losses, including your loved one’s injury, were a direct result of the negligence-related accident.
This is a fairly straightforward example of how negligence works. However, some cases are more complicated than the hypothetical above. For example, say that the distracted driver noticed they were about to hit someone else and tried to swerve, only for the steering wheel to lock up. In this situation, we would have to show that the liable driver’s negligence was compounded by the negligence of a manufacturer or mechanic.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can uncover the truth behind your loved one’s accident and pursue both justice and fair compensation for your family.
Learn More About Hiring Our Wrongful Death Lawyers In West Palm Beach
Florida imposes a strict deadline on when you can take legal action. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine as soon as possible to discuss the circumstances of your loved one’s death during a complimentary consultation. Our West Palm Beach wrongful death lawyers will explain your options so that you can make the best choices for yourself, your family, and your future.
We Can Help.
