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Tampa Wrongful Death Attorney
Losing someone because of another person’s carelessness leaves a family with grief and questions at the same time. The Reyes Firm can explain who may file in Florida, what a claim can recover, and the deadlines that apply, at a pace that works for you.
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Why Tampa Families Come to Us
We Handle the Process, You Handle Your Family
Wrongful death claims involve an estate, a personal representative, and several survivors at once. We take on the paperwork, the investigation, and the insurer so your family can grieve.
We Investigate Before the Evidence Disappears
Vehicles get repaired, scenes get cleared, and records get overwritten. We move early to preserve what proves how your loved one died and who is responsible.
We Account for Every Survivor’s Loss
Florida law recognizes different losses for a spouse, for children, for parents, and for the estate. Those have to be identified and documented separately, not lumped together.
No Fee Unless We Win
Consultations are free and confidential, and we work on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for your family.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Florida?
A wrongful death occurs when a death is caused by the negligent, reckless, or intentional act of another person or company. Under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, the decedent’s personal representative files a single action on behalf of the estate and the eligible survivors.
Which survivors are eligible, and what each can recover, depends on the family’s circumstances. That is usually the first thing we sort out, because it shapes everything that follows.
- The personal representative of the estate, who files the action
- A surviving spouse
- Surviving children, including adult children in some circumstances
- Parents, in certain cases
- Certain relatives who depended on the decedent for support or services
How Wrongful Deaths Happen in Tampa
If you have lost someone in any of these circumstances, it is worth asking whether a claim exists. That conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Fatal Car Accidents
Crashes on I-275, I-4, and Tampa Bay roads, where we examine fault, available coverage, and each survivor’s losses.
Truck and Commercial Vehicle Crashes
These may involve the driver, the employer, the vehicle owner, and maintenance providers, each with separate responsibility.
Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Deaths
With little physical protection, negligent driving often proves fatal to riders and people on foot.
Unsafe Property and Negligent Security
A property owner or business may be responsible when a dangerous condition or a security failure contributes to a death.
Defective Products
Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers can face liability when a dangerous product causes a fatal injury.
Workplace and Construction Incidents
A fatal workplace accident may involve workers’ compensation benefits and a separate claim against a negligent third party.
What a Wrongful Death Claim Can Recover
No claim replaces the person your family lost. What it can do is address the financial consequences of that loss and hold the responsible party accountable.
What each survivor may recover depends on their relationship to the decedent and the circumstances, so the figures differ from family to family. Punitive damages are available only in limited cases and are not part of every claim.
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills from the final injury or illness
- Lost financial support and services
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and protection
- Mental pain and suffering of eligible survivors
- Punitive damages, only where Florida’s legal standard is met
How We Handle a Wrongful Death Case
Investigation
We gather the crash or incident evidence, records, and witness accounts, and identify everyone who may be responsible.
Working with experts
Where it helps, we bring in medical professionals, accident reconstruction, and financial experts to document how the death occurred and what the family has lost.
Negotiating with insurers
Insurers often move quickly to close these claims. We present the full picture for the estate and each survivor before any number is discussed.
Filing suit, if needed
If the insurer will not deal fairly, we are prepared to file and take the case before a judge and jury.
Wrongful Death Questions, Answered
Who actually files the claim in Florida?
The personal representative of the decedent’s estate files one wrongful death action on behalf of the estate and all eligible survivors. If no personal representative has been appointed yet, that is usually one of the first steps, and it is something we can help the family arrange.
How long does a family have to file?
Generally two years from the date of death for a Florida wrongful death claim. Some circumstances carry different deadlines and additional presuit requirements, so it is better to ask early than to discover a deadline has passed.
What if there is a criminal case going on?
A civil wrongful death claim is separate from any criminal prosecution. The two can proceed at the same time, they involve different standards of proof, and a criminal case ending without a conviction does not necessarily end the civil claim.
Will our family have to go to court?
Many wrongful death claims resolve through negotiation without a trial. We prepare each case as though it will be tried, because that preparation is often what produces a fair offer, but we will not push a family toward a courtroom without discussing it first.
What does it cost to talk to you?
Nothing. Consultations are free and confidential, and we work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover for your family.
Other Cases We Handle
The Reyes Firm represents injured people and grieving families across Tampa Bay.
Talk to Someone About What Happened
Free and confidential, with no obligation and no fee unless we win. Our office is at 4730 N. Habana Ave., Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33614.
(833) 422-3329 · Hablamos Español