The average wrongful death settlement is important to know. When you have a legal claim or when you’re considering bringing a legal claim, knowing the average wrongful death settlement can help you understand what to expect going forward.
While each wrongful death case is unique, there are still some things you can learn by understanding a typical settlement. Here’s what you need to know about wrongful death settlements from our Tampa wrongful death attorneys.
What Is a Wrongful Death Settlement?
A wrongful death settlement is money paid to resolve a personal injury claim that results in a fatality. The victim’s next representatives may bring a claim to receive compensation and hold the responsible party accountable for their loved one’s death. A wrongful death settlement is the resolution of a civil complaint that representatives bring on behalf of a person who is the victim of a fatal personal injury.
Average Wrongful Death Settlement
The average wrongful death settlement ranges from $500,000 to over $1 million. A typical wrongful death settlement depends on the circumstances surrounding the case. Your settlement may be more or less than average. Each wrongful death case has its own, unique value that depends on what happened, and the law that applies to the case.
Wrongful Death Settlement Amounts
Wrongful death settlement amounts depend on the facts of the case and the personal characteristics of the victim. To determine a wrongful death settlement amount, you consider the following factors:
- Last medical expenses for the victim
- Burial expenses
- Future financial support that the deceased would have provided
- Future household services that the deceased would have provided
- The age and health of the deceased person
- Needs of surviving dependents
- Whether fault is apparent in the case
- Whether exemplary damages are appropriate in the case
While settlement amounts vary, every life is important and deserving of a large amount of compensation. Every wrongful death settlement is a serious matter. When your loved one is the victim of a wrongful death, you can expect the settlement to reflect the importance of their life and the loss and grief that your family is experiencing.
Examples of Wrongful Death Cases and Settlements
- Lake County, California settled a wrongful death case for $2 million. The case surrounded a woman who was arrested for erratic behavior. The woman was not charged with a crime, but the police kept her in jail. While incarcerated, the woman screamed for help. But the jail guards didn’t seek medical attention for the woman. When the woman committed suicide in jail, the county settled her wrongful death case.
- In 2018, three wrongful death victims received a combined settlement of $383.5 million. The victims suffered cardiac arrest after receiving treatment in the defendant’s dialysis clinic.
- The family of famous football player Junior Seau brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL. The family claimed that head trauma while playing football lead to Seau’s death. Under the comprehensive settlement plan, families of former NFL players who die of head trauma may receive up to $4 million in compensation.
Wrongful death cases may arise from a variety of circumstances. Any legal wrong that results in a fatality may be grounds for a wrongful death case. For example, a car accident can be the basis of a wrongful death claim.
Other types of wrongful death cases are defective product cases, slip and falls, and negligent security. Intentional misconduct like assault and battery or homicide can also be the basis for a wrongful death case. It’s any case that seeks to hold someone responsible for the death of someone else. If you’ve lost a loved one because of an accident or the actions of another, you may have the standing to bring a wrongful death claim to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
How Much Are Wrongful Death Settlements?
Wrongful death settlements are, on average, $500,000 or more. Your case may be more or less than average. The purpose of a wrongful death settlement is to place a value on the loss of companionship, life, and income that happens when a personal injury results in death. Although no amount of money can ever equal a life, the settlement is an amount that reflects the tragic loss to the loved one’s family.
Average Wrongful Death Settlement Florida
The average wrongful death settlement in Florida is approximately $500,000 or more. Some wrongful death settlements average more than $1 million. A wrongful death case in Florida may go to a state court or a federal court. The laws that apply to your case may impact the amount of your compensation.
How to Get a Fair Wrongful Death Settlement in Florida
To get a fair wrongful death settlement in Florida, there are several steps to take:
- Jurisdiction and standing – Ensure that you have the standing to file the case. You must file it in the right court.
- Draft the complaint – Your written court documents are crucial. When you file your complaint for compensation, you must comply with the law and accurately state the legal basis for your claim.
- Valuing your case – There are many types of compensation you can claim in a wrongful death case. It’s essential to work with an experienced attorney to fully value your claim.
- Build a strong case – You win a wrongful death case based on evidence. The stronger you build your claim, the stronger the position you’re in when it’s time to negotiate your settlement.
- Negotiate your settlement – Negotiating a fair wrongful death settlement takes skill and patience. You should know when to accept an agreement and when to move your case forward towards trial.
How Our Tampa Wrongful Death Settlement Attorneys Can Help
Our wrongful death settlement attorneys in Tampa can help you get a fair settlement for your wrongful death case. We know that losing a loved one in a personal injury accident is agonizing. We want to help you fight for justice and get the compensation that you deserve.
At Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, we fight until you have a check in your hands that represents justice. We work to hold wrongdoers accountable. You and your loved ones deserve nothing less than determined, passionate legal representation. Call us today for a confidential consultation about your case.
Tampa Car Accident + Personal Injury Lawyers
For more than 40 years, personal injury lawyer Jack G. Bernstein has protected the rights of individuals who have been injured in a variety of circumstances. Throughout his career, Bernstein has been a strategist thoroughly dedicated to the idea of protecting the rights of his clients. Mr. Bernstein is a member of the Florida State Bar Association, the Hillsborough Bar Association and the Clearwater Bar Association.
Mr. Bernstein has the experience and expertise to handle a wide range of injury cases. Among the types of plaintiffs Mr. Bernstein represents are individuals involved in car accidents caused by drunk drivers or other exhibiting negligence, medical complications resulting from carelessness caused by a physician or a medical facility, including brain injury, bicycle, motorcycle, moped and truck accidents, admiralty law and cruise ship accidents, accidental drownings, all types of wrongful death lawsuits, along with most injury, catastrophic occurrences and legal malpractice issues.
Our firm handles every type of personal injury and accident case, using negotiation and litigation tactics effectively. We handle cases throughout Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, FL. With a staff of approximately 40 people, including six lawyers and 34 support personnel, we have the legal resources to get the justice you deserve and the maximum recovery for your losses. Schedule your free consultation today; we are always here to help.
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