Did you recently lose a loved one in a fatal accident in Destin, Florida? If someone else is responsible, Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
With more than 60+ years of combined experience helping victims of senseless negligence, we are committed to doing everything we can to help you get the compensation you need to help you in this difficult time.
We’re a local Northwest Florida father-son team with a track record of getting results in the toughest of cases. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for clients over the years. Call our Destin, FL law office today at (850) 842-2573 to see how we can help or contact us here. Your initial consultation is free.
How Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Fatal Accident in Destin
We know that this may be the most difficult time in your life. You need time to grieve and to take care of yourself and your family right now. Let us handle everything else. You don’t need to be fighting with insurance companies who will try to swoop in and take advantage of you when you’re vulnerable.
Here’s how our Destin personal injury attorneys can help you right now:
- Listen compassionately to your story and understand how the loss has affected you
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation to pinpoint the cause of the accident
- Locate and interview witnesses
- Collect all other evidence needed to build your case
- Handle all communication with insurance companies and at-fault parties
- Seek a settlement favorable to you that fairly compensates you for all losses
- Send a top-rated trial lawyer to take your case to court if necessary
Our founding attorney is a former insurance defense lawyer. That’s a great advantage to you. We’re well-known and respected throughout the Panhandle. When defense firms see our law firm coming after their clients, they know we mean business.
Consultations are always free. All you have to do is make the call today. We’ll do the rest.
How Do I Know if I Have a Wrongful Death Case?
You could have a wrongful death claim under Florida law if your spouse, child, or parent was fatally injured due to someone’s negligence or wrongful act. Wrongful death is a civil action, so even if there was criminal conduct involved, you may also be able to seek compensation in a wrongful death case.
Wrongful death cases are common when fatalities occur in:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Boating accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Parasailing accidents
- Personal watercraft accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Dog bites
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Aviation accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Medical malpractice
- And more
The only way to know for sure if you have a valid wrongful death case is to consult a reputable Destin wrongful death attorney. The compassionate team at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help you take the first step in trying to continue through this challenging time. We’ll do an initial case evaluation for free.
How Much Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?
No two cases are alike. Unlike typical personal injury cases, compensation in wrongful death cases is based on future damages. Fatal accidents do tend to be ones with some of the higher awards.
Some factors that can affect the value of your case include:
- The nature of the accident
- Whether your loved one died instantly or suffered for a period of time
- The extent to which the victim’s income contributed to the household
- The age and life expectancy of the victim at the time of death
- The age and life expectancy of survivors
These are just a few examples. We can’t stress enough how much every single case is unique. We treat each and every case with the care and respect it deserves. As part of our comprehensive investigation into your case, we make sure to look at the full impact of your loved one’s loss.
What Kind of Damages in Florida Wrongful Death Cases?
After a fatal accident, there are potentially two separate legal actions available to you. Depending on the circumstances, you might seek compensation under one or both of them.
Wrongful Death Action
This cause of action compensates surviving spouses, children, or parents of a victim for the loss of their loved one.
Survival Action
This cause of action allows the personal representative of the victim’s estate to “stand in the shoes” of the victim after their death. You would seek compensation that would have been available to the victim in a personal injury claim had they survived.
Proceeds in a survival action would be distributed as directed in the deceased’s estate plan (or by statute, if there’s no last will and testament).
This helps you understand generally that there may be two branches to your lawsuit. You don’t really need to worry about which action applies to you. Our legal team has years of experience with these complex cases. After listening to your story, we’ll know exactly what the best approach is for your case, and we’ll advise you accordingly.
In either case, damages generally fall into one of two categories:
- Economic damages: these compensate you for monetary losses
- Non-economic damages: these compensate you for intangible losses like pain and suffering
Most awards contain a combination of both types of damages.
Damages for Monetary Losses
Economic damages can include:
- Lost wages calculated from the time of the accident until death
- Future lost wages based on victim’s projected lifetime income
- Medical bills that the victim incurred from the time of the accident or illness until death
- Funeral and burial expenses
We often use economic experts to get a realistic projection for future losses. Our goal is to bring financial stability to your future by maximizing your award.
Damages for Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages compensate you for more subjective losses such as
- Psychological distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of guidance and support
- Loss of family services
- Suffering endured by the victim from the time of injury until death
Although these losses typically don’t have a price tag, they are incredibly valuable to you because they define your quality of life. When someone’s negligence has caused you unbearable suffering, they need to be held accountable for it.
Can I Still Sue for Damages If the Defendant Blames My Loved One for the Accident?
It’s very likely. If your loved one isn’t mostly responsible for the accident, then you can still receive compensation. Under Florida’s modified comparative fault statute, at-fault parties will only compensate you for the portion of the accident or injuries they caused. So if your family member is found to be partially responsible, your compensation will be reduced by the portion of fault attributed to them.
We know how insurance companies work. Our founding partner did defense work at the beginning of his career. He knows their tactics, so they can’t get away with their usual low-ball offer when we’re on your side. We fight back aggressively against unfair blame.
What Is Negligence and How Do I Prove It in a Wrongful Death Case?
Most accidents are preventable. Negligence is the legal theory used to hold people accountable when they’ve been reckless or careless. So it’s the basis for most wrongful death cases.
Negligence has four elements:
- Duty: the defendant owed the victim a duty of care
- Breach: the defendant breached that duty
- Causation: the defendant’s breach of duty caused the victim’s death
- Damages: you suffered damages as a result
These might seem straightforward. But proving each element is rarely easy. Even when the defendant’s conduct seems to obviously point to your loved one’s death, you must prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence. While it’s not as strict as in a criminal case, it means you have to show that it was more likely than not that the defendant’s actions caused the death of your loved one.
Some examples of evidence we may use includes:
- Police reports or other accident reports
- Expert testimony or reports from economic or medical professionals
- Video footage from security cameras, traffic cameras, or GoPros
- Maintenance reports
The evidence needed in each case is fact-specific. We’ve handled hundreds of cases, and we know what works. We know how to downplay or exclude evidence that might not work in your favor. Trust your future to our experienced Destin personal injury attorneys.
What’s the Statute of Limitations For Wrongful Death Claims in Florida?
You’ll have just two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. We know it’s heartwrenching to think about something as formal as a lawsuit while you’re grieving. But this is where our services can help you more than you can imagine.
All you have to do is give us a call and set up your free consultation. That starts the process that will let us handle this complex legal process so you can take the time you need for yourself. We help you every step of the way.
We don’t collect a penny if we don’t win. You have nothing to lose, so call today.
Contact Our Destin Wrongful Death Lawyers For a Free Consultation
The unexpected death of a loved one is never easy. You need a law firm that fights tenaciously for you and treats your case with compassion. Our unique combination of being a small firm with the experience and training to get big results is what you need right now. You won’t get lost in the shuffle, yet you get award-winning legal advice.
Since 1990, local Northwest Floridians have counted on us in times of need. We’re proud to know we’ve come through with substantial results.
Call our Destin wrongful death lawyers today. Let us fight for justice for your family. Your initial consultation is free.
Our personal injury law firm in Destin, FL also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Destin
- Boating Accident Attorney in Destin, FL
- Brain Injury Lawyers in Destin, FL
- Destin Bus Accident Lawyer
- Car Accident Lawyer in Destin
- Child Injury Attorney in Destin, FL
- Construction Accident Lawyer in Destin, FL
- Destin Dog Bite Attorneys
- Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers in Destin, FL
- Lyft Accident Attorneys in Destin, FL
- Destin Medical Malpractice Lawyer
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Destin, FL
- Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Destin, FL
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Destin, FL
- Premises Liability Lawyer in Destin, FL
- Product Liability Lawyer in Destin, FL
- Slip and Fall Lawyers in Destin, FL
- Taxi Accident Lawyer in Destin
- Truck Accident Attorneys in Destin
- Destin Uber Accident Lawyers
- Workplace Accident Lawyer in Destin, FL
- Wrongful Death Lawyer in Destin