Even though you were not personally made the victim of a fatal personal injury accident, medical malpractice incident, or violent crime yourself, your loved one’s death may leave a lasting impression on the rest of your life. Since you may be left to pick up the pieces after this catastrophic event, you may wish to pursue justice against the negligent party on your loved one’s behalf and file a wrongful death claim. Without further ado, please continue reading to learn the damages you may seek to recover in such a claim and how an experienced Tampa wrongful death lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you earn the maximum amount of financial compensation to which you are entitled.
What damages can I seek to recover in a wrongful death claim?
First of all, before you even initiate your wrongful death claim, you must ensure you are eligible to be the plaintiff of one. That is, by Florida law, you must be the deceased’s surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, then this would be the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, appointed by their heirs or the court. This may apply even if you incurred damages as an extended family member of the deceased. Nonetheless, as a qualified plaintiff of a wrongful death claim, you may seek to recover any of the following relevant damages:
- The cost of the deceased’s funeral and burial.
- The cost of the deceased’s outstanding medical bills associated with their accident event.
- The cost of the deceased’s damaged property that would have been passed down to their heirs.
- The loss of the financial support you would have received from the deceased if they were still alive.
- The loss of companionship you would have maintained with the deceased if they were still alive.
- The loss of domestic services and guidance the deceased would have offered if they were still alive.
How are these damages different than those in a personal injury claim?
As the plaintiff of a personal injury claim, you may have suffered from injuries and subsequent economic and non-economic damages firsthand. So, without the element of death involved, fortunately enough, you may be looking at different claims.
For example, instead of claiming the remaining balance of your medical bills, you may also be seeking financial compensation for the medical bills you anticipate incurring in the future, especially if your particular injuries require intensive, long-term treatment plans.
Then, you may feel lucky and blessed to have survived your accident event, especially if it was a catastrophic one. However, this is not to say that you will ever get to resume your life as normal. For this, you may claim a diminished quality of life and a lost enjoyment of life. At the same time, you may cite how you now experience chronic physical pain and emotional suffering in its aftermath.
If you need legal representation fast, a skilled Pasco County personal injury lawyer is prepared to step up. The team at Merricks Law Group, P.A. looks forward to meeting you, working with you, and helping you.
