Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

    ORLANDO, FL, November 20, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When your loved dies because of another person's negligence, the fallout is often nothing less than paralyzing on both an emotional and a financial level. Wrongful death lawsuits are designed to compensate families for a devastating loss that could have been prevented. When it comes to filing a wrongful death claim, most families react in one of two ways: they either are desperate to bring the negligent party to justice, or they can't bring themselves to care about filing a wrongful death claim since it won't bring their loved one back.

The Benefits of Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

Obviously, there is no possible way to put a price on the life of a beloved family member. Despite this - and even because of this - there are plenty of reasons to bring forward a wrongful death case:

- To recover costs and lost income - Sometimes, victims of negligence may not die immediately: they may have spent months or even years in the hospital before their injuries finally pulled them under. This can leave families with exorbitant medical bills, on top of the funeral expenses they must contend with. Additionally, if the deceased was the primary source of income for a family, the financial loss of their death will be felt far into a family's future.

- To punish and deter conduct - Under certain circumstances, if the action that caused your loved one's death rises above mere negligence, claimants can pursue punitive damages against the responsible party. In this way, wrongful death lawsuits can act as a deterrent to other that might engage in the same negligent behavior that led to your loved one's death. Without wrongful death lawsuits, companies and people would not be discouraged from negligent behavior. Many companies even build the costs of wrongful death lawsuits into their business model.

- For closure and a sense of justice - Many families who have brought forward successful wrongful death claims say that the best part about going to the effort is the sense of closure they achieved: the knowledge that they have obtained justice for their family member.

If you are still uncertain whether or not you want to pursue a wrongful death claim, consult with an experienced wrongful death attorney in your area.

How to File a Wrongful Death Claim

Ideally, the process of filing a wrongful death claim should be completed with the help of an experienced attorney. Each state has its own time limit on filing a claim (called a "statute of limitations"), and claims must meet basic requirements in order to be considered valid. These requirements include:

- The death certificate (signed by a coroner)
- Evidence or a witness that the death was caused by another party
- Proof of financial losses suffered by your family
- Proof of emotional trauma (in the form of a doctor's report)

Once the above requirements are met, the wrongful death lawsuit can be filed with the court.

If you would like more information on how to file a wrongful death case, please visit the website of the experienced Florida wrongful death attorneys at Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter today at www.thefloridafirm.com.

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