Loxahatchee Wrongful Death Lawyers

It is impossible to assign a dollar value to a human life. Anyone who recently lost a loved one would agree that no amount of compensation will make coping with the loss any easier.

If you relied on the deceased for financial support, though, filing a successful wrongful death claim may be the only way to continue providing for your family. To determine if you have grounds for such a claim, turn to Donaldson & Weston.

Our strategic personal injury lawyers will review the circumstances of your relative’s passing to identify all potentially liable parties so you can hold them financially accountable. We will do everything in our power to negotiate for a settlement that allows your family to maintain its standard of living. Call 561-299-3999 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our compassionate wrongful death attorneys in Loxahatchee.

Facing any kind of legal issue can be stressful, but meeting with a lawyer shouldn’t be. Our wrongful death attorneys know the emotional toll that an unanticipated death can have, and we will do everything we can to put you at ease from the moment you enter our office.

We will use the first meeting to get to know you and determine if your family has grounds for a claim. After the initial consultation, we will take over and handle all the logistics of your case, from gathering evidence to interviewing witnesses to negotiating with the opposing party.

You can ensure the claim gets off to a strong start by preparing for this meeting. For example, consider the answers to the following questions:

• Why do you suspect negligence played a role in your loved one’s death?


• Do you have any proof of fault, wrongdoing, or malicious intent?


• Have you spoken to any insurance adjusters regarding the incident, and if so, have you provided any recorded statements?


• What kinds of contributions did the deceased make to the household?


• What kinds of costs have you incurred as a result of the accident?


• Who is the personal representative of the deceased’s estate?


• How much time passed between the date of death and the date on which it became apparent that negligence may have played a role?


• Have you posted anything about the case on social media?

Once we determine that you have grounds for a claim, we will then go over possible strategies for pursuing the compensation you deserve. Although we cannot promise to achieve a particular outcome, we will discuss the various directions in which the case might go and whether we think a trial is likely. Most wrongful death claims are resolved before going to court, but we will prepare as if we are going to trial so your case is as strong as possible.

After losing a family member in a sudden accident, finding the motivation to complete even the simplest of daily tasks can be challenging. Under the weight of overwhelming grief, entering complicated legal proceedings might be the last thing you want to do. But if you wait too long to start the claims process, you might end up facing a dispute or other complication that would have been avoided if you had taken action right away.

For example, if any time-sensitive evidence becomes unavailable, this might increase the likelihood of facing a liability dispute. And in the state of Florida, there’s a limited timeframe within which a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed, and if the deadline passes, you might not be able to recover any compensation at all.

To protect your legal rights, here are a few steps to take as soon as possible if you intend to file a claim:

• Contact an Attorney: Your Loxahatchee wrongful death attorney can handle the complex elements of your case so you can focus on the grieving process and your family. One of our lawyers can meet with you in a free consultation to discuss your situation, provide answers to your questions, and help you understand what to expect over the coming weeks and months. We can handle all correspondence with the opposing party and their insurance company, gather evidence, bring in expert witnesses if necessary, and use proven strategies to pursue the highest settlement possible.


• Gather Evidence: Although we will gather evidence on your behalf, you can ensure our first meeting is as productive as possible by bringing along any evidence you already have. Examples include documentation related to your loved one’s income, his or her medical records, and any evidence pertaining to the accident such as photographs of the scene or the police report. If you don’t have any of these documents, don’t worry; our Loxahatchee wrongful death lawyers can help you obtain them.


• Direct Relevant Correspondence to Your Lawyer: If the person who was responsible for your loved one’s death had liability insurance, a claims adjuster will probably contact you or another family member to ask questions. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company. Instead, direct all such correspondence to your attorney.


• Be Cautious When Using Social Media: Nowadays, it’s fairly common for people who have lost a family member to express their sorrow, grief, and love over social media. While it’s certainly important that you turn to close friends and family for support, keep in mind that the claims adjuster might review your social media accounts, the accounts of the deceased, and the accounts of his or her connections to find evidence that may be used to challenge your claim. For example, if you post details about the events that led to the death, they might be misrepresented by the insurance company to argue that the deceased was partially at fault for the fatal accident. Try to limit your use of social media and set all relevant accounts to “private.”