A wrongful death lawyer in Lake City, FL helps clients obtain compensation that addresses a broad range of factors, both tangible and intangible. Along with the terrible grief family members feel when a loved one dies during or soon after an accident come substantial expenses because of the incident.
Tangible Factors
There may have been medical bills for treatment in an emergency room, surgery and hospitalization. Funeral expenses can be high. In addition, the person may have been providing a significant amount of the family’s income, which now is gone.
Intangible Factors
Intangible factors, or those that are not associated with economic issues, can also qualify for financial compensation. A wrongful death lawyer in Lake City, FL may request specific monetary amounts for the family’s mental anguish, for instance. Loss of parental guidance for children and loss of companionship for a spouse are factors often included in settlement negotiations.
Technical Legal Aspects
The legal aspect of wrongful death is considered when the fatality occurred because someone else was negligent or reckless, or caused harm intentionally. A fatal accident that was truly nobody’s fault cannot constitute a wrongful death claim. For example, it may be impossible to determine if there was any fault after two vehicles collided on an icy road. This is uncommon, however. Usually, someone made an error or was careless.
Family Member Eligibility
In Florida, the spouse of the deceased person or that person’s children are eligible to file a wrongful death claim with a lawyer such as Duane E. Thomas, Attorney at Law. The children must be under the age of 25. This may seem unfair to adults who are grieving the loss of their parent, but current regulations have this restriction. If someone else was at fault, they can still file a claim for tangible expenses connected with the accident, but not for intangible factors.
Whether or not there is any doubt about what type of claim can be made after a fatal accident, the family may schedule a complimentary consultation with an attorney. More information can be found at Northfloridaautoaccidentlawyer.com.
