Fort Myers Wrongful Death Lawyer

Although pursuing legal action following the death of a loved one is probably the last thing on your mind, you might be eligible for compensation to help with medical bills, funeral costs, and other unexpected expenses. The loss of your loved one could leave you in a difficult financial and emotional situation.

When another person is responsible for the death of your loved one, it’s only right they cover the costs you’ve incurred as a result. Our Fort Myers wrongful death lawyers at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can help you. 

Identifying a Fort Myers Wrongful Death Case

You might be eligible for a wrongful death case if another person was the cause of your loved one’s death. Whether the defendant’s actions were negligent or deliberate, we’ll work to serve justice.

Wrongful death might be a part of the following cases:

• Auto accident
• Work accident
• Boating accident
• Slip and fall
• Medical malpractice
• Birth injuries

For instance, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that 658 fatalities occurred due to boating accidents in 2021. Those deaths could have been due to collisions, slips and falls due to poor safety measures or actions taken by other passengers. Likewise, medical malpractice can range from misdiagnosis to surgical errors. All these examples represent avoidable accidents that could be the basis for a wrongful death claim or suit. 

Just like in personal injury cases, wrongful death hinges on connecting a careless action with your loved one’s passing. That could take many forms, perhaps even a situation not listed above. Our attorneys can investigate other scenarios if you suspect some form of negligence cost the life of someone you love. 

The Role of Florida’s Statute of Limitations in Your Wrongful Death Case

Florida Statutes § 95.11 requires we file any wrongful death cases within two years from the date of the death. There are some situations in which this timeline can be extended, but they’re rare.

We understand how difficult it can be to consider legal action while you’re still grieving your loved one in Fort Myers. Unfortunately, waiting too long to file a lawsuit can make it difficult, if not impossible, to collect the compensation you need. Our wrongful death lawyers are here to help you during this tough time. 

How a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Fort Myers Can Assist You With Your Case

At Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, we understand the overwhelming situation you’re in. Filing a case for compensation is probably the last thing on your mind as you grieve, but the compensation could be an important part of your recovery. Our compassionate wrongful death lawyers are here to help you through every step of the process.

Here’s what we can assist you with.

• A free consultation to go over your case
• Help with calculating damages your family could receive
• Determining the negligent action that caused the accident
• Identifying anyone who could be held liable
• Representing you to insurance companies or in court

Within each of those categories are many tasks we can take off your plate, from calling insurance adjusters to conducting an independent investigation of the accident. You can count on our team to make moves on your behalf while keeping you updated on the small details. 

Complimentary Consultation

Taking the first legal step is usually the hardest. You might question if you have a case. You might wonder what really happened to cause the death of your loved one. We are here for you. A free, no-obligation, consultation gives us the opportunity to better understand the details of your case.

We’ll immediately begin collecting information to understand what happened and how it will affect your life. You can receive your free case evaluation right after the passing of your loved one, even if you still don’t have all the information. So, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Calculate Damages

Calculating damages in a wrongful death case is not as easy as adding up medical bills. When a person’s negligent behaviors lead to a loss of life, there are many more costs to consider. We’ll work hard to recover the following costs in your wrongful death case:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost work benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Pain and suffering of the deceased
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of parental guidance
• Funeral costs

Funeral expenses alone can be a burden on families. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) points out that caskets can range from $2,000 to $10,000. The service may require expenses like catering, transportation, and facility rental. Together, we can go through your loved one’s final wishes and ensure their send-off is fitting and covered by compensation. 

The immediate expenses aren’t the only financial consequence of a wrongful death. We also work closely with experts to project your family’s losses over time. With their help, we can evaluate the income the deceased was providing and would have provided. We even account for side gigs and other revenue streams. 

The non-economic costs, such as pain and suffering and loss of companionship, can be more challenging to calculate due to being customized to your losses. However, this ensures the full reality of your situation is included in your damages. We’ll work with you to better understand the effect of the loss on you and your family.

Determine Negligence

To have a valid wrongful death case, we must provide evidence the defendant held a legal duty of care to the deceased, and they neglected to uphold that duty. We’ll work to demonstrate this connection while also demonstrating that negligent activities did lead to the accident and your incurred damages.

Our injury lawyers will determine negligence by investigating and uncovering the details of what happened. This includes pulling information from:

• Medical records
• Witness statements
• Police reports
• Income statements
• Social media posts
• Previous complaints
• Timeline of events
• Transportation logs 
• Photo or video evidence 

What we use is based on your case type. For instance, transportation logs can highlight that a commercial truck driver failed to take breaks, causing them to fall asleep at the wheel and cause the accident. Previous complaints can apply to slip and fall cases, showing that a hazard was not addressed in time to prevent your loved one’s passing. 

Whatever form of wrongful death suffered by your family member, we can work to tie specific evidence from the accident to their case. We can also use expert witness statements to provide further insight into the events of the accident.

Identify Liable Parties

The evidence we gather to determine negligence will also shed light on who was responsible for that negligence. Responsibility can actually be shared by more than one party. Even individuals or entities who were not even at the site of the accident could bear fault. For instance, trucking companies can be held responsible for driver behavior, and healthcare facilities can share blame with their staff. 

We can even investigate if a government entity played a role. For instance, if a sidewalk in a public park wasn’t maintained properly and caused your loved one to experience a fatal fall, we could hold a municipality responsible. Likewise, road defects that contributed to a fatal auto accident could leave government entities liable. 

Our wrongful death lawyers explore these and other options to ensure everyone who contributed to your loved one’s death in Fort Myers is held accountable. 

Represent You in Your Time of Need

Wrongful death cases are especially challenging, particularly when going up against tough insurance companies. Moreover, the state expects you to promptly file documents while you’re still dealing with the funeral of your loved one. We’ll handle every step of the legal process for you, always keeping your best interest in mind. It’s important the responsible party pays for their negligence.

Get Help From a Fort Myers Wrongful Death Legal Team Today

Navigating the aftermath of a wrongful death case can be overwhelming. It’s normal to have feelings of anger and confusion about the situation. You might wonder what actually happened to cause the loss of your loved one. It can be difficult to collect necessary documentation and attend court dates while you’re still grieving. We understand what you’re going through and will help you every step of the way.

While filing a wrongful death case cannot bring back your loved one, it can make it easier to manage the day-to-day following the accident. Many people don’t consider the financial consequences of a loss so significant. We’ll fight to uncover the details of the accident and collect the compensation you need. Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today.