Orlando Wrongful Death Lawyer

When someone you love dies from the negligence of another person, you suffer not only the loss of the person but also the need to seek justice on behalf of the deceased. You may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim against those responsible with our help. A successful case can result in holding a wrongdoer accountable for their actions and providing compensation for having lost a family member.

Filing these claims in Florida is complicated and requires help from a skilled Orlando wrongful death lawyer. At DWK Law, we offer compassionate legal representation from experienced lawyers—call (407) 244-3000 to schedule an initial case evaluation and learn more today.

DWK Law will hold liable parties accountable

An experienced lawyer knows there may be more individuals who are potentially liable than the person who seems obviously at fault. For example, suppose your loved one dies after a head-on car accident. You may believe the person who hit them is responsible. However, if the other driver lost control of their car because an untrained mechanic failed to repair the braking system properly, the auto shop could be held accountable for a wrongful death. Each case is different and requires a thorough investigation to ensure all those legally responsible are held accountable for the wrongful death of a loved one.

• To prevail in a wrongful death claim, you and your attorney must demonstrate the four elements of negligence:
• Duty of care: The at-fault party owed your loved one a duty of care to take reasonable action to avoid causing harm.
• Breach of duty: The liable individual failed to uphold (breached) their duty.
• Causation: Because of the at-fault person’s failure, your family member died.
• Damages: Your family has experienced damages directly related to the death that must be repaid.

To demonstrate these factors, your Orlando wrongful death attorney must present as much high-quality documentation as possible to persuade the jury with a preponderance of the evidence. This can come from police reports, photos and videos, witness statements, medical records, autopsy results, and expert testimony. Your lawyer will also offer detailed calculations of what your family has lost and will be denied in the future as a result of the death. These are known as damages.

If you are asking, “Why choose us?” your answer could not be easier. We have over three decades’ worth of experience in managing various personal injury claims, drawing on our work in car accidents, premises liability, product liability, and other cases in Florida. Your DWK Law wrongful death attorney in Orlando has the skills, knowledge, and aptitude to negotiate what you deserve forcefully.

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What is a wrongful death claim?

A wrongful death lawsuit is brought when a person dies as the result of the negligence, breach of duty, or recklessness of another party. Some examples where negligence results in a loved one’s loss include medical malpractice, car and truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, pedestrian accidents, and defective products.

It’s important to understand that a wrongful death claim differs from a criminal case in Florida. If your loved one’s death resulted from a crime, such as assault, robbery, or murder, the state will prosecute the responsible party to determine their guilt. However, this process doesn’t compensate your family for your loss. A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit aimed at securing monetary damages to help cover the financial support the deceased would have provided.

What damages can we help you claim in a wrongful death case?

Damages are paid to a claimant in a successful civil case and include payment for expenses such as lost income and medical bills. Many more losses must be included for wrongful death claims, such as burial and funeral costs. Your damage demands will generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages include anything that has a fixed price tag, and non-economic losses acknowledge the intangible ways the death has affected the survivors’ lives.

The Wrongful Death Act of Florida allows the decedent’s estate to recover the estimated damages of items such as:

• Medical care and expenses before the decedent’s death
• The estimated income the decedent would have earned had they lived
• Inheritance the deceased’s beneficiaries would have received
• Value of the decedent’s home and childcare services
• Pain, suffering, and grief of the survivors
• Loss of companionship for the survivors
• Loss of consortium by the spouse
• Loss of guidance, mentorship, and support for the children
• Lost benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, pensions, or savings

The recent Florida Tort Reform Act has brought many changes to how lawsuits are handled in the courts, in addition to existing nuances regarding recovering lost potential income. While there is no limit on economic damage awards in any kind of personal injury or wrongful death claim, some caps are put in place when the case involves medical malpractice or a suit against a government entity. Your wrongful death lawyer in Orlando can handle all of these details so you and your family can focus on grieving.

Speak with a qualified Orlando wrongful death lawyer at DWK Law today

When you have lost someone to the negligence or malice of another person, you must act quickly to speak with a professional legal advocate. Determining who is at fault and building a solid case against them can take many weeks or months, and the clock is ticking from the moment of your family member’s death. To avoid losing your opportunity to seek compensation through the Florida court system, contact DWK Law and speak with our wrongful death attorneys in Orlando.

We are committed to bringing your family peace of mind and a sense of closure after a senseless tragedy that deprives you of your loved one. Use our online form or call us at (407) 244-3000 to arrange a meeting today.

We answer common questions about wrongful death cases in Orlando

How much does it cost to hire a wrongful death attorney in Orlando, FL?

When your family is already dealing with a large share of expenses after a loved one’s death, you may question whether spending money on an attorney is the right move. Fortunately, DWK Law allows you to get the legal representation and guidance you need by working on a contingency fee basis.

A contingency fee structure means your Orlando wrongful death lawyer will take their fees as a percentage of your final settlement or jury award. This amount is part of the client agreement letter you will sign when you hire our firm, so there are no surprises. We update you as your case progresses, including recommendations for engaging professional collaborators and experts to testify.

While our team is dedicated to securing the maximum compensation for your specific case, there are risks in every situation. Contingency means you only pay us once and if we obtain a settlement for you. You only pay our fees if we win your case.

How are wrongful death settlements paid out?

In most cases, the wrongful death settlement will be paid in a lump sum through a negotiated method between the plaintiff and defendant. When the settlement or jury award is substantial, the defendant may have agreed to a structured plan that provides regular payments over several years.

Local resources for surviving family members and personal representatives

Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos

719 Vassar Street

Orlando, FL, 32804

Local: (407) 401-7899
Toll Free: (407) 244-3000

Map and directions

Funeral homes

• Good Life Funeral Home and Cremation
• Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home
• Postell’s Mortuary

Grief support and counseling services

• Total Life Counseling
• LifeStance Health
• Charis Counseling Center