Few sights are as frightening on a Florida freeway as a wrong-way driver. Wrong-way drivers on the freeway often end up in high-speed, head-on collisions. These types of car accidents can be difficult to avoid - especially if the wrong-way driver is impaired - and even harder to survive. Tragically, such head-on crashes often result in the wrongful death of motorists or passengers.
Wrong-way drivers cause tragedy on Florida roads
Recovering from the sudden death of a loved one
Coming to terms with a sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can be extremely difficult. You may have been going about your tasks and duties on an average day when you got a call informing you that your family member had suffered serious injuries in a Florida motor vehicle accident.
Brain injuries implicated in many wrongful death cases
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are implicated in almost a third of all deaths. Even if a TBI is not immediately fatal, it can certainly be life-altering. Yet, in many cases, such injuries may not present themselves right away and go undetected for a matter of days or in some cases, weeks. Until a brain injury heals, a secondary trauma to the head can be fatal.
Fort Myers man killed in boating accident
A 40-year-old Fort Myers man has died after being ejected from a boat that hit a sand bar. After his ejection, the boat then hit and killed the man. The boat was a 19-foot vessel with three other people aboard. None of the other passengers were injured, and the accident is still under investigation. It has not yet been determined whether alcohol was involved.
Passenger dies after falling out of moving vehicle in Plant City
On December 8, 2017, a passenger in a van in Plant City fell out of the moving vehicle into a roadway where he or he was struck by oncoming traffic and died. At the time of publication of this news, there were very few details available regarding how, or why, this happened. Regardless, it brings to light the emotional topic of wrongful death.
Can I get compensation for loss of companionship?
When a husband or wife becomes deceased in an event that results in a wrongful death claim, the surviving spouse may be entitled to compensation in what is referred to as loss of companionship.
What damages are available through a wrongful death claim?
Individuals who lose loved ones through accidents and intentional acts of violence often have survivor rights to pursue civil wrongful death claims. In Florida, wrongful death claims must be initiated by the personal representatives of the decedents and on behalf of close relatives of the decedents who relied upon them for love and support.
Three people die in fiery car accident on Selmon Expressway
A devastating scene recently unfolded on Selmon Expressway in South Tampa. Drivers witnessed a multi-vehicle collision that left one of the involved cars engulfed in flames. Despite efforts by good Samaritans who stopped their own vehicles to help the victims, three individuals perished in the fiery wreck.
How is loss of companionship covered in a wrongful death case?
Like other damages claimed in a personal injury or wrongful death case, loss of companionship damages are paid to the party or parties that successfully prove them at trial. In Florida the immediate family members of a wrongful death accident victim may allege that the loss of their loved one deprived them of love, closeness and other positive factors and that the responsible party should be held liable for those intangible losses. The remainder of this post will discuss some of the ways a plaintiff may show that they should be awarded loss of companionship damages.
Dangerous driving leads to fatal pedestrian accident at bus stop
Public transportation provides a useful and necessary service for countless people throughout the state of Florida. While some use buses, trains and other transportation services to get to work and school, others use public transit as an alternative to driving when taking a night out for fun. While public transportation can be convenient and efficient, it does require riders to exercise some patience as they wait for coming rides.
