Tampa is one of Florida’s biggest and busiest cities, and fatal accidents can happen in many ways. If you recently lost a family member in a fatal crash on I-75, in a slip-and-fall accident, or because of an intentional act of violence, it is crucial to consult a Tampa wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. You may have grounds to file a civil suit against the party responsible for your family member’s fatal injury.
Ronald Bone, P.A., can help you understand your legal options after a family member has died because of another party’s negligence or misconduct in Tampa. Our team has extensive experience handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims for clients in Tampa and surrounding Hillsborough County communities. Ronald Bone can provide confident, compassionate legal representation for this difficult case.
Any situation that could lead to a personal injury case can result in a wrongful death claim when the victim does not survive. A wrongful death claim is a type of personal injury case filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, and the goal is to hold the defendant accountable for the surviving family’s losses. These are inherently difficult cases due to the emotional stress and uncertainty they often involve. Legal counsel you can trust is an invaluable asset.
Ronald Bone, P.A., provides client-focused legal counsel. Our team knows that every case is unique and every plaintiff faces different challenges and opportunities in their legal proceedings. We take time to learn as much as possible about the situation, assess whether a specific party is at fault for the victim’s fatal injury, and prepare our client for the difficult proceedings their case will likely entail.
Some of the leading causes of wrongful deaths in Tampa include motor vehicle crashes, slip-and-fall accidents, and intentional acts of violence. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 3,375 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents statewide in 2023. Slip-and-fall accidents are a leading cause of fatal injuries at home and at work in the US, and acts of violence can lead to complex criminal cases as well as wrongful death claims.
Your Tampa wrongful death lawyer can gather the evidence needed to prove fault for the fatal injury. The evidence you need depends on the nature of the incident, and some evidence won’t be obtainable for very long. There is also a procedural time limit to file your wrongful death claim, and missing this statute of limitations will likely lead to case dismissal, even if the case has merit.
When you hire a wrongful death attorney to represent you, they can gather evidence you may not know how to obtain on your own. You can rely on Ronald Bone, P.A., to build the foundation of your case, ensure you meet all procedural deadlines for filing it correctly, and explain the Florida wrongful death laws that apply to your case. Your Tampa wrongful death attorney will also be ready to address any unforeseen complications that might arise as your case unfolds.
The objective of a standard personal injury claim is for the injured victim to recover compensation for the damages the defendant caused. In a wrongful death case, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate attempts to secure compensation for the damages the victim’s family has suffered. They may be able to claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages in a wrongful death case can include any losses incurred by the deceased’s estate, such as the cost of the victim’s final medical bills. The plaintiff can also claim compensation for funeral and burial costs, lost financial support the victim can no longer provide to their family, and any property damage the defendant caused.
When it comes to non-economic damages, the plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for the family’s emotional suffering, mental anguish, and loss of companionship. This can be difficult to assign monetary value, and many factors can determine how much pain and suffering compensation the victim’s family will receive. When you hire a wrongful death attorney, you are more likely to maximize this part of your recovery.
Many civil claims for damages filed in Florida each year are resolved outside of court in private settlement negotiations. This is not always a viable option, but it can potentially allow the parties involved to resolve their case faster and with greater control over the outcome. However, it requires both the plaintiff and the defendant to be willing to compromise.
Settlement may not suit your family’s interests, and if not, you need to hire a wrongful death attorney you can trust to guide you through litigation. Ronald Bone, P.A., will carefully review the unique details of your case and help you understand whether seeking a swift settlement or pursuing a trial verdict would offer better results. Ronald Bone accepts many referrals from attorneys across Florida who are unwilling to litigate their clients’ cases and has proven trial experience.
The unexpected death of a family member is tragic, but knowing their death was the result of another party’s negligence or misconduct makes the situation even harder to accept. If you think another party caused the death of a family member, it is crucial to hire a wrongful death lawyer at your first opportunity. The sooner they begin building your case, the more likely you are to achieve a positive outcome.
Ronald Bone, P.A., will provide compassionate legal support through every step of these challenging proceedings. He has years of experience resolving challenging catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases for clients in Tampa, and you can expect responsive communication and close attention to detail in every step of these difficult proceedings. Our team’s goal is to help you ensure accountability for the party responsible for causing your loved one’s death.
Ultimately, every wrongful death case in Tampa is unique, so you need to hire a wrongful death attorney who can address your individual challenges. Ronald Bone, P.A., is ready to assist you, so reach out at your earliest opportunity to learn more about his legal services for Tampa wrongful death cases.
A: In Tampa, proving fault for a wrongful death requires identifying the party responsible for causing the death, showing that their negligence or misconduct directly caused the fatal injury, and then showing the full scope of the family’s resulting damages. The evidence you will need depends on the nature of the fatal incident in question. For example, proving fault for a fatal car crash may require police reports, witness testimony, and traffic camera footage.
A: If the victim was partially at fault, Florida’s modified comparative negligence statute applies to the case. Each liable party is assigned a fault percentage, and if the victim was less at fault than the defendant, the plaintiff can still recover compensation, but the case award is reduced by the victim’s fault percentage. If the victim was more at fault, then the plaintiff cannot claim compensation from the defendant.
A: The value of a wrongful death claim in Tampa depends on multiple factors. If you can prove fault for your loved one’s fatal injury, it’s possible to recover compensation for all related economic losses as well as compensation for the family’s pain and suffering. Every case is unique, so it’s important that you hire a wrongful death attorney you can trust to maximize your settlement or case award.
A: It’s possible for the defendant to go to jail for causing the wrongful death if they broke the law in causing it. For example, if your family member died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the drunk driver faces criminal prosecution for driving under the influence, along with civil liability for the victim’s wrongful death. Criminal penalties increase significantly when a defendant has caused great bodily harm or death.
A: You should hire a wrongful death attorney because these cases are inherently challenging in several ways. You could encounter many complications that you will not be able to resolve on your own, and navigating complex legal proceedings while struggling with emotional distress would make an already difficult situation even worse. Hiring legal counsel increases your chances of achieving a positive result in this case.
Ronald Bone, P.A., is ready to help you approach your wrongful death case in Tampa with confidence. With more than 30 years of experience resolving some of the most challenging personal injury cases in the Tampa area, Ronald Bone can help you ensure accountability for a family member’s wrongful death. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Tampa wrongful death attorney.
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