The United States on an annual basis reports the highest number of car accidents than other similarly developed western countries. And Florida, as such a large and populous state also ranks near the top when it comes to the number of crashes that happen each year. 

When a car accident happens the results can cause injuries and great bodily harm, and they can also be deadly. The most tragic situations are those where otherwise normal healthy individuals suffer debilitating physical bodily harm and death after a crash. Specifically, when the loss of life happens because of a deadly Florida car accident, those left behind can feel cheated because the loss of their loved one did not have to happen. This is because the grand majority of deadly car accidents are avoidable as they are the result of human error. Negligence like speeding or allowing distractions to take one’s attention away from the road are two of the top causes of crashes. 

For example, if you are looking down at your cell phone while driving to see an incoming text, you are not paying attention to the road. As a result, you may miss a pedestrian crossing the street or a car turning onto the road and if you smash into them, the aftermath could be lethal. 

Families have the right to sue negligent drivers that cause deadly car accidents for compensation on behalf of their lost loved ones. For help with a Florida wrongful death claim, the Jacksonville wrongful death attorneys at The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates can are here for you.

How Can Wrongful Death Cases Come About?

In 2021, there were 3,434 deadly crashes in Florida that resulted in 3,725 total fatalities. Wrongful death claims happen with high frequency because of car accidents but automobile collisions are not the only way that death can happen due to negligence. In fact, there are several situations that can lead to a wrongful death accident to happen including the following:

• Medical Malpractice – Medical malpractice happens more often than many people know. It is so prevalent it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Two examples of how medical malpractice can happen where death results are if a wrong diagnosis and treatment plan is administered to a patient or the wrong prescription is prescribed to a patient that is toxic for them to take.
• Drowning – The demographic most affected by drowning accidents are children. But, anyone can drown. It only takes the littlest bit of time for a quick swim in the pool or other body of water to quickly turn into a deadly drowning situation.
• Dog Bites – Even though America loves its canine friends, dogs may not always be the friendliest or most socialized animals. And if they are scared or put in a position where they are uncomfortable, they may attack. Deadly dog attacks happen every year and the country loses many lives because of these scary events.
• Workplace Accidents – Not every work environment is considered dangerous, but there is still the potential to be fatally injured at work no matter what the profession. Although, some industries report higher workplace fatal injury accidents than others. Construction, law enforcement, agriculture, and professional drivers are some of them.
• Premise Liability – Property managers and owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe so that those who enter are safeguarded from harm. But this is not always the case as there are many instances where wrongful death claims are filed every year because of deadly injury accidents that happen on unsafe properties.

Why Work with a Florida Wrongful Death Attorney?

When loss of life is suffered, the grieving process varies from person to person. The one thing that is true, is that emotional distress no matter how it is dealt with can be incredibly painful for at least some period of time. Since there are deadlines when it comes to securing compensation after a wrongful death, the legal system does not give grieving victims much time to take action. When mourning, the extra challenge of navigating the complicated Florida wrongful death claim process can be a burden simply too heavy to bear. Because of this, victims may miss their window to file a claim to get the compensation they need and deserve.

An attorney can manage the whole process through each step and stage while victims take that time to focus on healing and moving on with life. Since legal professionals are trained in the law, victims can feel peace of mind that everything is being done correctly and within the specified timeframes.

An attorney can also appropriately evaluate a wrongful death case and identify all of the damages that victims can include in their claim. Then, an attorney can fight on the victim’s behalf to get that compensation and not allow the insurance companies to pay victims less than what they are entitled to. Also, if the wrongful death claim doesn’t settle outside of court, an attorney will be best positioned to litigate in the courtroom.

After a wrongful death, please connect with the Jacksonville injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates.

Speak to a Jacksonville Wrongful Death Attorney Today

It can be incredibly difficult to work through the shock and reality of losing a loved one far too soon. But you do not have to take on legal challenges alone. And even though money will not bring the deceased back or heal the deep emotional wounds that have been inflicted, it is one way that victims can secure some type of justice while recouping their financial losses. In some cases, if the way the wrongful death happened was by way of exceptional negligence, like a drunk driver that had a high blood alcohol content, it could be possible for victims to also be awarded punitive damages. Punitive damages are an additional amount of financial compensation that is used to punish the negligent party and act as an example to others of how not to behave.

Call the Jacksonville wrongful death lawyers at The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at 904-647-2296.