Citrus Ridge Wrongful Death Attorneys
The unincorporated village of Citrus Ridge, Florida, also known as Four Corners, is located just outside the Orlando and Kissimmee metro areas. As its borders are adjacent to the Disney World Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center, Citrus City is a popular tourist area and home to many hotels, resorts and restaurants. As such, the area also sees a high level of traffic, especially during the tourist high season. With so many cars on the road there is no doubt that there are also a high level of motor vehicle accidents in the Citrus Ridge area – some of which result in a fatality.
The loss of a loved one, regardless of the circumstances, always comes with an emotional toll. When the death was the result of a motor vehicle accident, on top of dealing with the emotional anguish and making the estate and funeral arrangements, there’s also the financial stress of paying for any outstanding medical and funeral expenses and trying to figure out how to make up for the loss of income and benefits that the decedent may have customarily brought in.
Although no amount of money could ever come close to compensated for the loss of a loved one, a Florida wrongful death lawsuit can help relieve some of the financial stress by offsetting the costs of a funeral and the loss of a household income.
Can I File a Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Florida law states that immediate family members qualify for filing a wrongful death action. According to the law, a family member includes (in order of priority):
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Other heirs
Any lawsuit must be filed by the executor of the estate in the name of the surviving family member or members. However, the lawsuit must be filed within four years of the time of the accident. This is known as a Statute of Limitations. Failure to file a wrongful death suit within the Statute of Limitations the court will likely deny the action and you will not be able to seek any damages.
What Type of Compensation Can I Recover?
If you are eligible to bring a wrongful death suit the type and amount of damages will be determined by a jury. The purpose of damages are to compensate one for loss of a loved one that were caused by the negligent, willful or unlawful action of another. As such, all awarded damages must be proportional to the actual loss. Thus, if the decedent did not bring in any income, one cannot seek compensation for loss of household income. Common types of wrongful death damages include:
- Medical and funeral expenses
- Loss of anticipated future earnings (up to time of retirement or death)
- Loss of such benefits as retirement pension or medical insurance
- Loss of inheritance
- Pain and suffering and mental anguish
- Loss of care, protection and companionship
- General damages
- Punitive damages
What Do I Do Now?
The attorneys at the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A have over three decades of experience representing Florida wrongful death actions. To learn more about how we can help you get the compensation you deserve, contact us today and schedule your free initial consultation.
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- Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.
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