If your family member died in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact the St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys of Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. You might be entitled to compensation for various expenses related to the fatal injury or death. We could represent you in a wrongful death case against the at-fault party and hold them liable for their wrongdoing.
You have a right to seek legal action when someone causes your loved one’s death. In Florida, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate is the only person authorized to file the lawsuit. However, they must act on behalf of the estate and surviving family. Beneficiaries can receive compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs, and other losses.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers understands the devastation of losing someone in an accident the at-fault party could have prevented. Coping with a family member’s death is a complicated process. You’re dealing with the emotional aspects of grief while trying to seek compensation for what happened.
Our St. Petersburg wrongful death lawyers are ready to take on your case and fight for the justice you deserve. We will advocate for your rights and create a strategy to try to reach a favorable outcome. You will receive one-on-one attention and ongoing communication until the end. We will treat you as a priority from the moment you hire us.
Call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers at (727) 605-1100 today for your free consultation.
Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases
According to state law, wrongful death is a person’s death caused by someone else’s negligence, wrongful act, default, or breach of warranty. Fatal injuries can result from a range of scenarios. Human error is often the reason for someone’s death. Although preventable, deadly accidents can occur because of negligent behavior.
At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, we represent surviving families in wrongful death cases involving contributing factors, such as:
- Elder abuse
- Boat accidents
- Child injuries
- Premises liability
- Airplane accidents
- Car accidents
- Birth injuries
- Dog bite injuries
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
If your relative died in any type of accident someone else caused, contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers immediately to learn about the available legal options. We can determine who was at fault and build a claim or case against them to recover the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, accidents are a part of life, and sometimes there’s no way to avoid them. However, there are scenarios where people can take precautions to keep others safe. If someone behaves carelessly and causes someone’s death, they could be financially responsible for the resulting expenses the surviving family incurs.
Below are some of the various factors that can contribute to wrongful death.
Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents
Motorcyclists and bicyclists have a higher risk of death in accidents with vehicles. Riders don’t have anything other than their helmet to protect them. Ejection injuries are common and can lead to fatalities.
Bicyclist and motorcyclist deaths are often the result of driver error, such as:
- Taking a left-hand turn without checking for an oncoming biker or motorcyclist
- Swerving or drifting into the bicycle lane
- Opening a car door in the path of an approaching rider
- Passing a motorcyclist or biker too closely on the road
Boat Accidents
St. Petersburg is the perfect location for swimming, boating, and other water activities. Although residents and tourists can enjoy beautiful weather all year long, many are unaware of the dangers of boating.
Common causes of boat accidents include:
- Operator inattention
- Speeding
- Approaching land too quickly
- Improper lookout
- Inadequate number of life jackets for people onboard
- Operator distraction
- Poor maintenance of the vessel or its parts
Elder Abuse
Nursing home residents are vulnerable to abuse. Since older adults typically can’t defend themselves during an attack, they can sustain debilitating or life-threatening injuries. Abuse and neglect could have fatal consequences, especially if the victim doesn’t have access to prompt and adequate medical care.
The most common reasons for elder abuse include:
- Facility owner knowingly hiring unqualified or inexperienced staff
- Lack of training on procedures and policies
- Caregiver’s criminal past, psychological issues, or inexperience in caring for the elderly
- Staffing shortage in a nursing home
Truck Accidents
Federal laws regulate the trucking industry and impose various standards truck drivers and motor carriers must meet. Violating these standards puts others at risk of serious harm. Collisions between small cars and commercial trucks are often violent and destructive. The occupants of smaller vehicles can suffer traumatic injuries or death in accidents.
The most common causes of deadly truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Taking a turn too quickly
- Loading cargo beyond weight limits or securing it incorrectly
- Sudden or improper braking
- Merging without checking blind spots
- Inadequate truck maintenance
Premises Liability
Accidents on commercial and residential properties often result from dangerous conditions. Property owners must perform maintenance and repairs to keep their guests safe. Fatalities can occur when visitors encounter existing hazards, such as:
- Structural damage to a balcony or roof
- Defective staircase
- Poor lighting in a dark area of the property
- Damaged or missing railings
- Lack of fire protection equipment
- Malfunctioning elevator or escalator
Birth Injuries
A team of medical professionals is responsible for monitoring a pregnant woman and her unborn baby to discover potential issues. The team should also follow necessary procedures during labor and delivery. Medical errors can lead to a range of complications, including the mother or baby’s death.
The most common causes of fatal birth injuries include:
- Failing to detect fetal or maternal distress
- Failing to create a birth plan for a high-risk pregnancy
- Using too much force while pulling the baby out of the birth canal
- Delaying a necessary cesarean section
- Failing to diagnose a medical condition and providing prompt treatment
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians have the right of way in many situations. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes ignore traffic signs and signals or allow distractions to take their attention off the road ahead. When a car crashes into a pedestrian, the pedestrian could sustain a life-threatening injury or die upon impact.
The most common causes of pedestrian accidents are driver errors, such as:
- Failing to slow down and wait for a pedestrian to cross at a crosswalk
- Backing out of a parking space without looking behind the vehicle for passing foot traffic
- Distracted driving, causing the car to drift onto a sidewalk
- Speeding through a parking lot
- Turning right without checking for anyone about to enter the crosswalk
Car Accidents
Car accidents are common in the United States. They cause a significant number of injuries every year. Car crashes can also lead to fatalities. According to statistics, 38,824 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020.
The most common causes of car accidents include:
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Road Rage
- Driving under the influence
Child Injuries
Children are vulnerable to physical harm in a range of different accidents. Any blunt force trauma to the body could cause severe injuries. Fatalities commonly occur under circumstances such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Dangerous conditions at a park, swimming pool, or another type of property
- Faulty safety restraint in an airplane seat
- Defect in a swing set, furniture, or child’s toy
Dog Bites and Attacks
Unprovoked dog attacks can happen to anyone. Dog owners can be liable if an adult or child is bitten by their dog while lawfully on private property in a public place. Although some children don’t understand the proper way to interact with dogs, attacks can happen through no fault of the child.
Dog attacks and bites can be fatal to anyone, but children are typically at a significantly higher risk of death. A deadly infection could develop, or uncontrollable bleeding could occur.
Airplane Accidents
Plane crashes are rare. However, they can happen and lead to passenger deaths. Although many people associate airplane accidents with planes falling from the sky, other types of incidents are possible. Anyone could get hurt while aboard the aircraft.
Fatal injuries typically result from contributing factors, such as:
- Pilot error
- Miscommunication between the pilot and air traffic control
- Malfunctioning aircraft parts
- A faulty latch on an overhead bin
- Unsecured beverage cart
Whether your loved one died from a dog bite injury or in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers for legal assistance. One of our wrongful death lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL, can review all the circumstances and determine whether you have a case to pursue.
Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case
In Florida, only the personal representative of the deceased’s estate is allowed to file a wrongful death case. That person must act on behalf of the surviving family members and the estate. They must also include the names of each beneficiary in the lawsuit.
The money recovered in a wrongful death suit could stand as compensation for the estate and family’s losses, such as:
- Mental pain and suffering the family endured due to the death
- Loss of services and support the deceased provided
- The value of earnings and benefits the deceased could have saved and left in their estate if they survived
- Medical and funeral expenses paid by the estate or surviving relative
- Loss of the deceased’s protection and companionship
- Lost earnings, wages, and benefits between the date of the injury and death
- Lost parental guidance, companionship, and instruction the deceased can no longer provide to a surviving child
You might also be able to recover punitive damages from the at-fault party. To receive this form of compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit, you must provide clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Statute of Limitations for a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The Florida statute of limitations for wrongful death allows a two-year timeframe for the estate’s personal representative to file a lawsuit. That means they must file suit within two years from the date of the accident victim’s death. The timeframe does not start on the date of the injury if it differs from the date of the death.
Contact Us
At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, it is our honor to represent families suffering from losing a loved one. When someone else’s negligent actions cause your relative’s death, it is your right to seek legal action. You can count on us to be there for you during every overwhelming and complicated part of the legal process.
If someone’s negligence or recklessness caused your loved one’s death, call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers at (727) 605-1100 today for your free consultation with one of our wrongful death lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL.
