When a loved one dies due to somebody else’s actions, it can be a tough pill to swallow. Fortunately, Florida allows close family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit against those who are liable for their loved one’s death. If you’ve lost a loved one because of another person’s negligence, these types of lawsuits allow you to collect a few different types of damages.
1. Economic Damages
The biggest type of damages that you can seek in a wrongful death lawsuit is economic damages. This includes things like funeral costs, medical costs and lost wages of the deceased. Funeral costs can be expensive with the average funeral ranging around $8,000. In addition, everybody knows that medical expenses can be exceedingly costly, especially if your loved one didn’t have insurance coverage. In addition, you may be able to collect on the value of your deceased loved one’s intended wages for the rest of their working career had they not passed away.
2. Non-Economic Damages
Another type of damages that you can collect from a wrongful death lawsuit is for pain and suffering. When you lose the companionship of a loved one, it can be an extremely emotional event. Non-economic damages are there to help handle the burdens associated with the emotional trauma of losing a loved one.
3. Punitive Damages
Depending on the state where you’re filing a wrongful death lawsuit, you may be able to collect punitive damages. These damages are solely for the intent of punishing the party responsible for your loved one’s death. It’s thought that punitive damages are a way to help discourage similar behavior on the part of the defendant in the future.
If you have recently experienced the death of a loved one due to somebody else’s negligence, you may want to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Assuming that you have grounds to do so and are able to prove your case, you may be able to collect compensation to offset the financial hardship of the sudden loss. Contact Burnett Law, P.A. today to explore your legal options and seek justice for your loved one.
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