Wrongful Death Attorneys
The agony of losing a loved one is often compounded by the fact that another party’s negligent or malicious actions caused the death. In such cases, close relatives of the deceased might be entitled to significant compensation from those responsible. In order to begin this process, a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyer is usually retained to file suit on behalf of the victim’s relatives.
The term “wrongful death” can be defined as the death of a human being which is brought about by the deliberate or negligently accidental actions of others. In Broward County courts, wrongful death cases take on many forms, including, but not limited to:
- automobile, motorcycle, airplane or other moving vehicle accidents;
- trucking accidents, where overworked, fatigued drivers or improperly maintained vehicles cause fatal accidents;
- malpractice by a medical professional that leads to a patient’s death;
- exposure to hazardous situations or chemicals at work;
- occurrence of death while under the supervision of another party.
While wrongful death is an allegation often brought forth through a civil action in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, it can be filed as a result of a criminal action. A classic example of this is the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial. In order to have been found guilty, criminally, the prosecution had to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond all reasonable doubt. Even though the jury returned a verdict of “not guilty,” the family of the deceased filed a civil suit for wrongful death against Mr. Simpson and won the case due to a preponderance of the evidence, as shown by the jury’s verdict in the plaintiffs’ favor.
In order to successfully pursue this type of claim in Broward County courts, the plaintiff’s wrongful death attorney must show that the decedent’s death caused loss of income, property or other assets to the plaintiff and/or the decedent’s estate and heirs.